GST and Chinese pancakes

Is the entity, a food supplier, making a GST-free supply under section 38-2 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act), when it supplies a product known as a 'Chinese pancake'?

Yes, the entity is making a GST-free supply under section 38-2 of the GST Act when it supplies a product known as a 'Chinese pancake'.

The entity is a food supplier. The entity supplies a product known as a 'Chinese pancake'. While called 'Chinese pancakes', these products are similar to tortillas and flat breads and do not resemble pancakes. The ingredients for 'Chinese pancakes' are flour, oil, salt and water. 'Chinese pancakes' do not contain egg or milk.

The Chinese pancake is heated, using either a steamer or microwave, and filled with a savoury or sweet filling before consumption.

The entity is registered for goods and services tax (GST).

A supply of food is GST-free under section 38-2 of the GST Act if the product satisfies the definition of food in section 38-4 of the GST Act and the supply is not excluded from being GST-free by section 38-3 of the GST Act.

Food is defined in section 38-4 of the GST Act to include food for human consumption (whether or not requiring processing or treatment) (paragraph 38-4(1)(a) of the GST Act). The Chinese pancake is used to wrap savoury or sweet fillings for consumption. Therefore, the Chinese pancake is food for human consumption and satisfies the definition of food contained in paragraph 38-4(1)(a) of the GST Act.

However, under paragraph 38-3(1)(c) of the GST Act, a supply of food is not GST-free if it is food of a kind that is specified in the table in clause 1 of Schedule 1 to the GST Act (Schedule 1).

Item 20 in Schedule 1 (Item 20) lists various bakery items including pancakes and crepes. Therefore, it needs to be determined whether the Chinese pancake is a kind of 'pancake' or 'crepe'.

The phrase 'of a kind' is not defined in the GST Act. Accordingly, it is appropriate to examine the ordinary meaning of that term. The Macquarie Dictionary (1997) does not define the entire phrase 'of a kind'. However, it defines the word 'kind' to mean: '1. A class or group of individuals of the same nature or character, especially a natural group of animals or plants. 2. Nature or character as determining likeness or difference between things: things differing in degree rather than in kind. 3. A person or thing as being of a particular character or class: he is a strange kind of hero. 4. ....'

Accordingly, something will be 'of a kind' if it is of the same nature or character (possessing the same distinguishing qualities) as the thing or group in question.

The terms 'pancake' and 'crepe' are not defined in the GST Act and therefore take on their ordinary meaning. The Macquarie Dictionary (1997) defines pancake as 'a thin flat cake made from a batter of eggs, flour, sugar, and milk, cooked in a frying pan' and crepe as 'a thin pancake.'

Although the product is known as a 'Chinese pancake', it is not a kind of 'pancake' or 'crepe'. Rather, it is similar to tortilla or flat bread. While the 'Chinese pancake' contains flour, oil, salt and water, unlike the traditional pancakes or crepes, the 'Chinese pancake' does not contain egg or milk. Therefore, the 'Chinese pancake' is not food of a kind covered by Item 20.

Also, under the category heading 'Bakery products', item 27 of Schedule 1 (Item 27) lists ' bread (including buns) with a sweet filling or coating'. While the 'Chinese pancake' is a kind of tortilla or flat bread, it is not a bread that contains a sweet filling or coating at the time of supply. Therefore, a 'Chinese pancake' is not covered by Item 27.

As such, a 'Chinese pancake' is not excluded from being GST-free by paragraph 38-3(1)(c) of the GST Act.

In addition, the supply of a 'Chinese pancake' does not fall within any of the other exclusions in section 38-3 of the GST Act. Therefore, the entity is making a GST-free supply under section 38-2 of the GST Act when it supplies a product known as a 'Chinese pancake'.