New Zealand abandons flatulence tax plans
New Zealand has abandoned plans for a flatulence tax on animals in the face of fierce opposition from farmers.
The"flatulence levy was proposed to fund research into livestock emissions which are blamed as a cause of global warming.
It would have required farmers to pay the equivalent of 3p for each sheep, 19p for a beef animal and 26p for a dairy cow.
But the government agreed to face-saving industry-funded research programme at a meeting with farmer representatives instead, reports Stuff.
Federated Farmers vice-president Charlie Pedersen said the deal would not cost farmers an extra cent.
He said: "It's counting the research that we are already doing and the Government is going to put some money in to verify the research."
The tax proposal sparked angry protests by farmers and was ridiculed in newspapers all over the world and on the internet.
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