From today the 5% tax on sanitary products, also known as the tampon tax, will be abolished in the UK.
Campaigners rejoiced as the absurd tax was finally removed as of today (January 1st 2021) and has been hailed by activists who have long campaigned to scrap the 5% tax on sanitary products which includes tampons and sanitary pads.
In November 2020, Scotland made period products free to all citizens living within the country through the Period Products Free Provision Bill.
Felicia Willow of the Fawcett Society embraced the move:
“We warmly welcome the scrapping of VAT on all sanitary products from 1 January 2021 and congratulate the government on taking this positive step…”
“It’s been a long road to reach this point, but at last the sexist tax that saw sanitary products classed as non-essential, luxury items can be consigned to the history books”.
The EU says it is working towards scrapping the tax, though it must have agreement from all member states before it can move forward. Something they’re currently working on though it remains classified as a non-essential item.
Many Conservative MPs are now claiming that they were unable to abolish the tax due to their membership of the EU. Though a vote in 2015 to abolish the tax (The Finance Bill amendment) in a motion brought by the Labour Party was voted down. It would have enabled the government parliamentary power to negotiate a reduction of the 5% tax.
Stanisland Magazine 