Student campaigners have won their fight against tampon tax, meaning the sanitary items will now be sold tax free at Exeter University.
The institution and the students' union will cover the five percent cost of VAT from its sales of tampons and sanitary towels at shops on campus following the petition by the women's society.
A poll earlier in the year revealed almost 80% backed selling sanitary products without VAT.
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Iona Wainwright, women’s liberation officer, told Exeter Express & Echo: "Menstruation is not optional and taxing sanitary products, even at a reduced rate, is ludicrous when you consider that items such as crocodile steaks are considered ‘essentials’ and are tax exempt.
"We understand that technicalities of EU law make the removal of the five per cent tax rate complicated, and that’s why it’s so important for the Students’ Guild to absorb this cost to support its students."
Shelly Asquith, president of the University of the Arts students' union, previously blogged on HuffPost UK explaining why her SU was handing out free tampons to female students, in a stand against the tampon tax.
A petition started by student Laura Coryton to George Osborne to stop taxing tampons has received more than 230,000 signatures, although the government has yet to take action.
Ukip has said it would remove tampon tax if it came to power, although this promise failed to sway the voters; the party only gained one seat in the 2015 general election.
The institution and the students' union will cover the five percent cost of VAT from its sales of tampons and sanitary towels at shops on campus following the petition by the women's society.
Women's Liberation Officers secure tax-free sanitary products at @uniofexeter http://t.co/HPHbxNwlFT #tampontax pic.twitter.com/W8yNfGi9yf
— Exeter Guild (@ExeterGuild) April 30, 2015A poll earlier in the year revealed almost 80% backed selling sanitary products without VAT.
See Also:
- Why I'm Giving Out Free Tampons
- Petition Calls For George Osborne To End Tax On Sanitary Products Ahead Of March Budget
- The Bloody Cheek of the Tampon Tax
Iona Wainwright, women’s liberation officer, told Exeter Express & Echo: "Menstruation is not optional and taxing sanitary products, even at a reduced rate, is ludicrous when you consider that items such as crocodile steaks are considered ‘essentials’ and are tax exempt.
"We understand that technicalities of EU law make the removal of the five per cent tax rate complicated, and that’s why it’s so important for the Students’ Guild to absorb this cost to support its students."
Well done to Exeter's #TamponTax campaigners & @ExeterGuild, who will now cover the tax on 'luxury' sanitary products
— Harrison Jones (@HarrisonJones7) April 28, 2015
Shelly Asquith, president of the University of the Arts students' union, previously blogged on HuffPost UK explaining why her SU was handing out free tampons to female students, in a stand against the tampon tax.
A petition started by student Laura Coryton to George Osborne to stop taxing tampons has received more than 230,000 signatures, although the government has yet to take action.
Ukip has said it would remove tampon tax if it came to power, although this promise failed to sway the voters; the party only gained one seat in the 2015 general election.