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Period poverty is a serious issue in rural Hungary
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To this day, many Hungarian women cannot afford basic sanitary items even though these are essential monthly necessities. The lack of access to such products is called period poverty. A new research work shows the extent of period poverty in Hungary.
Feminine hygiene is priceless
In Hungary, women’s sanitary napkins and tampons are subject to a 27 pc VAT rate. This falls under the same category as gasoline, phone or laptop. Due to the high VAT rate, feminine sanitary products are overly expensive. However, no one cares to look into this issue. This is also shown by the fact that the Central Statistical Office (KSH) does not even examine the changes in the consumer price index regarding sanitary items when it compares the average product and service prices, writes napi.hu.
read also: Dm-drogerie markt products are more expensive in Hungary than in Germany or Austria!
The average price of tampons varies between HUF 350 and 700 (EUR 1-2), while menstrual pads prices range between HUF 500 to 1000 (EUR 1.5-3).
For many, this is a significant expense. The Red Cross from Girl to Woman Organization conducted a survey on the subject.
Purchasing these basic sanitary products poses an issue for 15 pc of the women and girls aged 14-21 years.
But if you build a new LUXURY HOUSE – you only pay 5% VAT for the building materials.
Welcome to Orbanistan!
Outrageous!
In the UK they’ve taken the VAT off these products. They’re a necessity and not a luxury. Quite right too. Shouldn’t be a taboo subject. However, if some families do find this a taboo subject, how on earth are they going to discuss sex education.
“The 5% rate of VAT on sanitary products – referred to as the “tampon tax” – was abolished in the UK on 1 January. EU law required members to tax tampons and sanitary towels at 5%, treating period products as non-essential. Chancellor Rishi Sunak committed to scrapping the tax in his March Budget”. Jan 1, 2021