Government Extends Food Tax Relief Until 2028: Saint Lucians to Keep Paying Less for Everyday Groceries

Thousands of Saint Lucian families are expected to continue saving on essential groceries after the Government approved an extension of key tax and duty relief measures aimed at keeping the cost of living under control.

The Government has extended the waiver of the customs service charge on select price-controlled food items until May 31, 2028, while customs import duties on those products and the zero-rated Value Added Tax (VAT) on building materials will remain in effect until June 30, 2027.

The decision follows an extensive assessment by the Department of Consumer Affairs, which concluded that the relief measures have helped lower prices, improve affordability and shield consumers from the effects of global inflation and ongoing supply chain disruptions.

The review examined market prices between August 2023 and April 2026 through continuous price monitoring and found that consumers recorded measurable savings on several household essentials, including cooking oil, corned beef and other staple food items.

Director of Consumer Affairs Wendy Frederick said the findings demonstrated that the concessions delivered real financial benefits to consumers while contributing to greater price stability across the retail sector.

“The findings revealed that consumers experienced measurable savings across several categories of essential goods, with notable reductions recorded for key food items including cooking oil, corned beef and other household staples. The assessment also found that the relief measures contributed to greater price stability and increased affordability for many families despite ongoing international economic challenges,” Frederick said.

She added that extending the concessions will allow households to continue benefiting from lower prices while supporting Government’s wider strategy to ease the cost of living and protect consumers’ purchasing power.

Frederick also emphasized that the Department of Consumer Affairs will continue monitoring retail prices to ensure businesses pass the benefits of the concessions on to consumers.

“The assessment further highlighted the importance of ongoing market surveillance to ensure that the benefits of fiscal concessions are passed on to consumers. The Consumer Affairs Division will continue to closely monitor retail price movements and assess the impact of the extended measures on consumers across Saint Lucia,” she said.

Government said the extension was driven by evidence gathered through years of consumer price monitoring and reflects its continued commitment to promoting affordability, consumer welfare and market stability amid persistent global economic uncertainty.

The Department of Consumer Affairs is expected to launch a nationwide public education campaign in the coming weeks to help consumers better understand and take advantage of the extended relief measures.

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