Goods and Services Tax: what supplies of fruit and vegetable juices are GST-free?

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act) provides that supplies of many foods and beverages for human consumption are GST-free. Fruit and vegetable juices are beverages for human consumption and their supply will be GST-free if they meet the requirements listed in clause 1 of Schedule 2 to the GST Act, and do not come within any of the other exclusions listed in section 38-3 of the GST Act.

This Determination explains how you work out whether the fruit or vegetable juice you supply is GST-free. The Determination also explains when a supply of a concentrate for making non-alcoholic beverages is GST-free.

A supply of food is GST-free. [F1] Food is defined to include beverages for human consumption and ingredients for such beverages. [F2] However, supplies of beverages or ingredients for beverages will only be GST-free [F3] if they satisfy the requirements in clause 1 of Schedule 2 to the GST Act. The items in Schedule 2 that concern fruit and vegetable juices are Items 10, 11 and 12. These items are shown in the following extract. 'Schedule 2 - Beverages that are GST-free' 1. Beverages that are GST-free

Item 11 provides that a carbonated beverage will only be GST-free if it consists wholly of fruit or vegetable juices. Item 12 provides that non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverages will only be GST-free if they consist of at least 90% of juices of fruits or vegetables by volume. However, to be supplied GST-free the fruit and vegetable juices must be beverages under the ordinary meaning of the word beverage.

The GST Act defines beverage to include water, [F4] but does not otherwise discuss the meaning of a beverage. The word beverage appears in a similar context in the former sales tax legislation [F5] and has been considered by the courts to mean 'a drink of any kind' and, in turn, drink as 'any liquid which is swallowed to quench thirst or for nourishment.' [F6]

For something to be a drink, it must be a liquid to be swallowed: • to quench thirst; or • for nourishment.

A liquid providing nourishment will sustain life by assisting in growth or providing energy. A nutritional purpose may be contrasted with a medicinal purpose which arises where a liquid is provided for the treatment of disease or has curative or remedial properties.

Liquids that are consumed other than to quench thirst or for nourishment (for example, liquids consumed for medicinal purposes) do not satisfy the requirements of Items 11 or 12 of Schedule 2.

Item 10 provides that certain concentrates for making beverages can be supplied GST-free, where they are for making non-alcoholic beverages. These products contain concentrated fruit or vegetables, and when reconstituted by the addition of water, return to a drinkable 'pure juice' state. However, to be supplied GST-free, the concentrate must consist of at least 90% by volume of juices of fruits or vegetables.

The labelling of your product will indicate whether the volume of the concentrate either comprises more than 10% of sugar or other additives, such as preservatives and vitamin C, and therefore is subject to GST, or whether it consists of 90% or more fruit or vegetable juices and is GST-free.

ABC sells 1 litre bottles of orange juice. The labelling indicates that the juice is 100% orange juice. The labelling also states: • reconstituted orange juice; • no preservatives; • no artificial colour; and • contains vitamin C.

ABC orange juice consists of at least 90% fruit juice. It can be drunk to quench thirst or can be an accompaniment to a meal and will provide nourishment. Although it might be 'healthy' it is not in the nature of a medicine. The supply of this kind of beverage is GST-free under Item 12 of Schedule 2.

ABC also supplies a 250ml tetra® pack of orange juice that is labelled the same as the l litre orange juice. The tetra® pack has a straw attached. The supply of the orange juice in the tetra® pack is also GST-free under Item 12 of Schedule 2. [F7]

XYZ sells pure Aloe Vera juice in a range of sizes. The labelling on each bottle includes: • a recommended dosage; and • information on the medicinal benefits of the juice. Pamphlets that provide similar information are sometimes available at retail outlets.

XYZ also markets a flavoured Aloe Vera juice. The labelling of this juice is identical to the labelling of the pure juices except that it states the juice has 15% lemon juice added. The XYZ range includes an Aloe Vera concentrate that is to be added to water. When water is added, the resulting reconstituted juice is consumed for the same reasons as XYZ Aloe Vera juice.

The XYZ range of Aloe Vera juices consist of at least 90% fruit or vegetable juice. However, they are consumed for their medicinal benefits as opposed to providing nourishment or as a drink or to quench thirst. The addition of lemon or another pure juice does not change the character of the juice. The juice is not a beverage for the purposes of paragraph 38-4(1)(c) of the GST Act and therefore is not GST-free. The XYZ Aloe Vera concentrate is not used for the purposes of making a beverage and its supply is not GST-free.

We invite you to comment on this Draft Goods and Services Tax Determination. We are allowing 6 weeks for comments before we finalise the Determination. If you want your comments considered, please provide them to us within this period. Comments by Date: 15 March 2002 Contact officer details have been removed following publication of the final determination.