New York set to repeal 'tampon tax'

Gov Cuomo is expected to sign the bill into law

Nancy R Cohen/Getty

The state of New York will become the next US state — of few — to abolish sales tax on tampons.

Feminine hygiene products, including tampons, will no longer be subject to the four per cent sales tax following the state Senate’s Monday passage of the legislation. Previous law had already exempted medicine and medicinal supplies, but tampons were included were classified as toiletries without medical ingredients, and therefore did not qualify.

Gov Andrew Cuomo is expected to sign the bill into law.

“We’ve said we’d work with the Legislature to repeal this tax and applaud their action,” spokesperson for the Governor’s Office, Dani Lever, told The Independent.

New York will join Massachusetts, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, who have already passed similar exemptions, once the tax is repealed.

“To be sure, the tax on tampons and other similar products harkens back to a time when little was understood about women’s biology and the vast majority of lawmakers were men,” said State Assemblywoman, and co-sponsor of a similar previous bill, Linda Rosenthal told the Associated Press.

Canada led the charge to repeal taxes on tampons, having passed a bill to do so in June 2015.