The United Kingdom has finally abolished the "sexist" tampon tax on menstrual products, which was one of the promises made by Brexiteers.
The British government said the abolition of the 5% value-added tax (VAT) on January 1 was made possible by the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31. The tampon tax was levied by an EU law that classified sanitary products as "luxury items." The EU, however, is now in the process of abolishing the tampon tax.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak committed to eliminating the tax in his budget presented in March 2020.
"I'm proud that we are today delivering on our promise to scrap the tampon tax," said Sunak. "Sanitary products are essential so it's right that we do not charge VAT."
Anti-tampon tax activists have been calling for the end of the outdated and sexist tax for years. Activist Laura Coryton said eliminating the tax is "about ending a symptom of sexism."
Felicia Willow, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, said 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 Fawcett Society is Britain's oldest charity campaigning for women's rights and gender equality.
In 2016, the Conservative government said all VAT collected on sanitary products would be given to charities working with vulnerable women and girls. It also enshrined in legislation abolishing the tampon tax.
The UK, however, follows in the footsteps of Scotland, which in late November became the first country in the world to provide free and universal access to menstruation products such as sanitary napkins, towels, and tampons in public facilities.
The Scottish parliament unanimously approved an act that places a legal duty on the government to make these products available to all women. Scottish schools, colleges, and universities will provide period products for free.
The decision was aimed at alleviating "period poverty" where girls and women have difficulty accessing or affording menstrual products.
Period poverty has also been described as the struggle to pay for basic sanitary products - the cost of which has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research shows that nearly one in five women in Scotland has experienced period poverty.
Scottish women are estimated to spend an average of $17 a month on these products and several thousand dollars over a lifetime. The government estimates the plan will cost taxpayers $31 million (24 million British pounds) annually.
