Scotland to make period products such as tampons and pads free

Authored by abc.net.au and submitted by StopTheGregSign

Scotland to make period products such as tampons and pads free

Scotland is set to be the first country in the world to make period products free to all.

Key points: A consultation document proposed modelling the scheme on the card-based system for free condoms

That system requires users to register for a card or voucher to exchange for the products

The scheme is expected to cost $47.5 million

Scottish MPs have backed plans to make products such as tampons and sanitary pads free at designated public places such as community centres, youth clubs and pharmacies.

The plan passed its first vote in the devolved Scottish Parliament.

The Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill was proposed by Scottish MP Monica Lennon, who first submitted a draft proposal in 2017. The annual cost is expected to be around 24.1 million pounds ($47.5 million).

"These are not luxury items," Ms Lennon said, adding that the bill was about "period dignity".

"They are indeed essential and no one in Scotland should have to go without period products.

"We are changing the culture and it's really exciting that other countries right around the world are watching very closely to see what we do."

A consultation document proposed modelling the scheme on the card-based system for free condoms, where users register for a free card or voucher to exchange for the products.

Aileen Campbell, Scotland's communities secretary, said: "We will continue our world-leading action promoting wider period dignity through a certification scheme to encourage organisations to provide free products."

In 2018 Scotland became the first country in the world to provide free period products in schools, colleges and universities.

Period products in the United Kingdom are currently taxed at 5 per cent — the so-called "tampon tax".

Former prime minister David Cameron's government said it wanted to end the unpopular tax, but said its hands were tied by European Union rules which set tax rates for certain products.

The government announced it would drop the tax in 2016, but this has not happened yet, the issue having been pushed to the sidelines during the Brexit process.

There is no tax on period products in Ireland, Canada, Australia, Kenya, India, Columbia, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Nigeria, Uganda, Lebanon and Trinidad and Tobago, the Scottish Government's briefing on the bill said.

Ms Lennon joined a rally gathered outside the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh, and held a sign which said "Access to menstrual products is a right. Period."

Topics: menstruation, reproduction-and-contraception, womens-health, health, scotland, united-kingdom

McFeely_Smackup on February 26th, 2020 at 01:26 UTC »

My company provides free sanitary products in the restrooms, and that seems like a perfectly decent company perk to provide.

Except that our facilities manager mentioned once that our monthly expenditure on tampons works out to almost 100 per female employee every month. He talked to HR about how to go about asking people to not steal tampons and he was told to just let it go.

NormanNormalman on February 26th, 2020 at 01:18 UTC »

I work at a public library and we have set up a donation system where patrons can donate various hygiene products which are supplied free in the bathroom. It works really well and we have a wide variety, even adult diapers. Community supporting community!

ceejless on February 26th, 2020 at 00:28 UTC »

In other words, if a woman's in desperate need, there will be places where free tampons etc will be available.