To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress has been made on abolishing VAT on sanitary products.
Answered on
1 April 2019
The Government remains committed to applying a zero rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) to women’s sanitary products in the UK at the earliest opportunity.
In January 2018, the European Commission brought forward a legislative proposal to enhance Member States’ flexibility to apply reduced and zero rates of VAT. This proposal remains under discussion in the EU and, if it is agreed by Member States, would give the UK the legal ability to zero rate women’s sanitary products.
The Romanian Presidency has stated its intention to progress negotiations on this proposal during its current term.