Victory for women: The government bows to feminist pressure over the ”tampon tax”

After the senators at the end of November, on Friday it was the turn of the National Assembly to vote, within the context of the rereading of the 2016 draft budget, and re-examine the proposed reduction of VAT on feminine hygiene products to 5.5 percent. Initially, this “tampon tax” was 20 percent, the products not being considered basic necessities. The cost of this reduction would amount to 55 million euros per year. This was the argument which led to the government opposing the reduction. The Georgette Sand group, among others, mobilised to call for redress against this injustice. ”Manufacturers and retailers must reflect this in the price “, stressed the group. The battle was not in vain given the perspective of some questionable statements made by certain male deputies in the Assembly. In October, the secretary of state for the budget, Christian Eckert, compared the VAT on tampons to that on “leisure parks” or shaving foam... AL