Norway: The Norwegian government’s plans to introduce a tax on use of perc has met with fierce resistance from the industry body. Michael Christensen, director of the Norwegian Dry Cleaning and Laundering Association told LCN: “We’re going to fight it.”
The tax – outlined in the government’s proposed budget for next year – would be NOK50 per kilo of perc, and Mr Christensen estimates it would cost the industry NOK14m a year, based on last year’s consumption figures of 280 tonnes.
While the government might have green intentions and want dry cleaners to switch to hydrocarbon machines from perc, Christensen says this is hardly likely when many cleaners have only just bought perc machines in place of CFC machines.
“It’s mad to direct investments from perc to hydrocarbon,” said Mr Christensen. “That effect won’t be achieved because only five years ago we had to buy new
perc machines. They aren’t paid for yet.”
The association is planning to lobby all members of parliament and meet with the appropriate committees.
