There has been some online backlash today (Thursday), soon after the government passed a new regulation which categorises tampons as a cosmetic product, causing the widespread belief that the product, which is a necessity for many menstrual women, would be subject to 30% tax.
Over 550,000 tweets were made bearing the Thai hashtag #TamponsWithoutTax, as of midnight, which is now among the top Twitter trends in Thailand, as the hashtag continues to gaining traction quickly.
“Why do women have to pay?” tweeted @hippoyayee, while the account @Jackhangu said “I am a man but I agreed with no taxes on sanitary napkins. I agree with free sanitary napkins for all women.”
The regulation, signed by Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul on June 29th and published in the Royal Gazette recently, only involves tampons, as a product designed to absorb blood and secretions by insertion into the vagina, and does not include sanitary pads, for which no insertion is required.
However, according to Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisulee Traisaranakul and the Excise Department, only the 7% VAT is applied, without any additional tax imposed.
