- Tampons and sanitary pads are now only to be taxed at the reduced VAT rate of 2.5 percent.
- This was decided by the National Council as part of the revision of the Value Added Tax Act.
- The debate in the National Council is still ongoing. The Council of States must then discuss the revision.
Monthly hygiene products have so far been taxed at the normal VAT rate of 7.7 percent, and not at the reduced rate of 2.5 percent that applies to everyday goods such as groceries. This has repeatedly been sharply criticized by women’s rights organizations. In 2019, Parliament then referred a request to the Federal Council, which demanded the reduced rate for menstrual hygiene items.
Today, the National Council followed the bill proposed by the Federal Council. This means that the reduced tax rate for tampons & co has come a big step closer. The next step is for the Council of States to decide on the bill.