The United Kingdom has abolished the 5 percent rate of value-added tax (VAT) on menstrual products, known as the tampon tax.
Meaning, from January 1, period products will no longer be subject to VAT.
The UK government said the change was made possible by the end of the Brexit transition period, and freedom from an EU law that mandates VAT on sanitary products.
“I’m proud that we are today delivering on our promise to scrap the tampon tax,” said UK finance minister Rishi Sunak, who committed to the change in his March budget.
“Sanitary products are essential so it’s right that we do not charge VAT,” he said in a statement.
Campaigners had been calling for the end of the tax, labeled “sexist” and “outdated,” for years.
“It’s been a long road to reach this point, but at last the sexist tax that saw sanitary products grouped as non-essential, luxury items can be consigned to the history books,” Felicia Willow Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, the UK’s oldest charity campaigning for women’s rights and gender equality.
(With input from agencies)
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