Morrisons has become the latest supermarket to cover the cost of the so-called Tampon Tax.
The supermarket giant has announced that it will cover the cost of the tax on sanitary products – meaning hundreds of items will be reduced.
Speaking about Morrison’s decision to scrap the tax, Jacqueline Claughton, Health Buying Manager for Morrisons, said, “Cancelling the effect of VAT on what is an essential product for many women and girls is the right thing to do.”
The move comes after both Tesco and Waitrose announced they were also reducing the price of sanitary products at the beginning of August.
Speaking about the price reduction, Michelle McEttrick, Tesco Group Brand Director said, “For many of our customers, tampons, panty liners and sanitary towels are essential products.”
“However, the cost of buying them every month can add up, and for many women and girls it can be a real struggle on top of other essential items.”
“That’s why – as a little help for our customers – we are reducing the cost of these products by fiver per cent.”
It has fallen to supermarkets to scrap the Tampon Tax, as the government has yet to take action over the levy.
In 2015, the government confirmed that it would seek change laws to scrap VAT on sanitary products. Until the tax is abolished, the government announced that the funds would be injected into women’s charities.
In 2016, the European Council confirmed that the Commission’s initiative would “include proposals for increased flexibility for Member States with respect to reduced rates of VAT, which would provide the option to Member States of VAT zero rating for sanitary products.”
