LONDON (AP) – Britain on Friday became the latest country to abolish the so-called ‘tampon tax’, which eliminates sales tax on women’s sanitary products.
The move has been widely praised by women’s advocates as well as proponents of the country’s departure from the European Union.
Treasury chief Rishi Sunak has pledged to end the widespread unpopular tax on tampons and bandages in his budget in March, but the change can only take effect on Friday after Britain finally leaves the European Union’s economic path.
Under EU law, countries cannot reduce the value-added tax on menstrual products below 5%, as they are considered luxury items and not essential. Ireland is the only EU country not to levy a sanitation on sanitary products, as the tax rate was zero before the EU made its bid.
“Sanitary products are essential, so it’s right that we do not charge VAT,” Sunak said. “We have already rolled out free sanitation products in schools, colleges and hospitals, and this commitment takes us one step closer to making it available and affordable for all women.”
Britain has officially left the huge single market of the bloc for people, goods and services at 23:00 London time on Thursday, giving it more leeway to draft its own laws. A new trade agreement between the UK and the EU will bring new restrictions and red tape, but for British supporters of Brexit, it means regaining national independence from the EU and its rules. They pointed to the abolition of the tampon tax as an early positive change from Brexit.
The British Treasury had previously estimated that the move would save the average woman nearly 40 pounds ($ 55) during her lifetime.
“It’s been a long road to get to this point, but eventually the sexist tax that sanitation products are classified as unimportant, luxury items can be sent into the history books,” said Felicia Willow, head of the Fawcett Society, a women’s charity.
Many other countries have also eliminated the tampon tax, including Australia, Canada and India. In the United States, several states, including New York and Florida, have also levied taxes.
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