Jersey’s social security minister has argued that removing the 5% goods and services tax (GST) on sanitary products would be pointless, even as the government highlights a growing free period product scheme that began in October 2022. Senator Elaine Millar told BBC Jersey that the state’s free-product program has expanded to a broader range of locations, including public toilets and government buildings, and has cost more than £500,000 since its launch four years ago.
Campaigners and residents have said the current approach still leaves some people paying GST when purchasing products. Millar, however, maintained that eliminating GST would not be effective and that affordability issues are addressed through the free-product scheme. She noted that someone spending about £5 a month on sanitary items would save around 25 pence if GST were removed, while the free-product scheme would save the entire cost of the product.
Millar emphasized that there is no need to remove tax on in-shop products because free products are available. She said, “If you look at simple facts, simple maths, if you’re spending £5 a month on sanitary products, taking GST off, if the saving was passed on, would save you 25 pence. With free products, you’re saving £5 because you’re getting the entire product free.”
The minister argued the scheme had widened its product range and pickup locations, calling it a testament to the need and demand for the program. She added that it addresses affordability and accessibility and helps make menstrual hygiene a routine part of daily life.
Debbie Taylor, president of Soroptimist International Jersey, welcomed the initiative but described in-shop taxation as “another example of inequality.” She suggested that, with more women in government than ever, the GST should be reconsidered and even proposed surveying women to gauge interest in tax changes. Taylor noted she would not have supported the 2022 proposition to remove GST, saying it would not have produced an effective benefit.
Residents interviewed by the BBC offered mixed views. Some called the tax on a necessity product “ridiculous,” while others saw the free scheme as offsetting the tax’s impact. Jersey remains the only place in the British Isles charging GST on sanitary products, a policy debated amid ongoing discussions on women’s health and tax policy.
The government’s free period product scheme has expanded since its launch, with more locations participating and a rising number of products distributed annually, according to local reporting. The debate continues as policymakers weigh affordability, accessibility, and the best way to support those who rely on these products.
