(F) luxury goods: the amendment on VAT rejected: this is what happened

Last week we inaugurated our new “Luxury (f) goods” section by informing you of the proposal to reduce from 22% to 10%. VAT applied to women's health and hygiene products, such as internal tampons, external sanitary pads, menstrual cups and sponges.
The amendment, signed by Laura Boldrini and 32 deputies of the majority and the opposition and proposed by the Democratic Party, was, unfortunately predictably, rejected.

The tax commission defined the proposal as "inadmissible" and, therefore, no discount will be included in the tax decree. Sanitary napkins are still not regarded as basic necessities. Indeed, every month, for about 40 years, we voluntarily decide to buy sanitary pads and the like to spoil ourselves a little, not because we really need them.

The Tampon Tax proves to be increasingly difficult to eradicate and Italy will continue to be part, at least for the moment, of the last 6 European countries with a VAT above 20%. Even Germany, currently at 19%, has established that a discount will be applied starting from January 2020, bringing the VAT down to 7%.

The response of the former Speaker of the Chamber Laura Boldrini was not long in coming. The woman tweeted: "It would not be Laura Boldrini who was rejected but millions of women and girls, forced to pay dearly for basic necessities. If the battle is to be shifted to the budget law, I will ask my colleagues in the Senate to take charge of it. #NoTamponTax", underlining how much this is a battle fought transversely by all Italian women and not a question of political alignment.

Let's not lose hope: the amendment will be evaluated again. Let's hope it's the right time. We will keep you updated.