On 28 November 2018, the Federal Government signed the determination that will remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from feminine hygiene products from 1 January 2019 (Determination).
The determination follows the completion of a public consultation on the definition of feminine hygiene products to be exempt of the GST.
The change will be made effective on 1 January 2019, removing the 10 per cent GST that currently applies to these products.
The Federal Government has directed the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) to monitor and report on the prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of menstrual products in the feminine hygiene products industry. The ACCC will monitor the price of menstrual products from 1 December 2018 to 28 February 2019, and provide a report to the Treasurer by 31 March 2019.
As part of this role the ACCC will examine prices nationally before and after 1 January 2019. The ACCC will also carefully consider any allegations that price changes are being misrepresented in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.
Read the Determination here, and read more about the ACCC’s role here.