'A day for celebration': Tampon tax scrapped in Britain

According to figures from Britain's Treasury, it will save women roughly 40 pounds (RM219) over their lifetime. Photo: Visualhunt

A tax on sanitary products has been abolished in Britain, in a change hailed by the government as a result of Brexit.

The levy, known as "the tampon tax," saw 5% added on to the price of sanitary towels and tampons as they were classed as "luxury items".

It was applied under EU member state law, but as Britain has left the bloc it no longer applies.

According to figures from Britain's Treasury, it will save women roughly 40 pounds (RM219) over their lifetime.

In March, Chancellor Rishi Sunak told lawmakers the tax would be abolished as Britain had left the European Union.

"I'm proud that we are today delivering on our promise to scrap the tampon tax," he said on Friday after it came into force. "Sanitary products are essential so it's right that we do not charge VAT.

"We have already rolled out free sanitary products in schools, colleges and hospitals and this commitment takes us another step closer to making them available and affordable for all women."

Campaigners have lobbied the government for years to scrap the tax.

Laura Coryton, who started the Stop Taxing Periods campaign in May 2014, said January 1 was a "day for celebration" but added she was frustrated the issue was being used as a "political football."

"It's great that the government is taking it really seriously - if the prime minister can talk about periods, surely anyone can," she told the Guardian newspaper.

"But it's frustrating... to make this campaign into a pro-Brexit thing, because it doesn't reflect the many different types of people who have been campaigning for it." - dpa