DUBLIN (JTA) - Bagels were granted equal status with soda bread in Ireland following a government decision to reclassify the traditionally Jewish favorite as ordinary bread for the purposes of taxation.

Bagels and other "ethnic" breads such as naan, pita and tortilla wraps now will be exempt from the 13.5 percent valued added tax on premium baked goods charged by the Irish revenue service.

The Feb. 8 decision reverses a provision included in last November's budget to slap new taxes on "value added" foods. Ordinary bread is exempt from tax in Ireland, but the Irish revenue service changed its determination on bagels late last year, saying they were not "sufficiently bread-like" to be exempt.