Supreme Court of Nepal on Wednesday, comprising the justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Mahesh Sharma Poudel issued the decision in response to a writ petition filed by two law students, Shreena Nepal and Abhyuday Bherwal from Kathmandu School of Law, claiming to remove tax from Sanitary pad.
The writ was filed on 2078, Shrawan 26 and after four year of legal hearing court issued the decision to remove the tax on sanitary pad.
The students were demanded to remove tax from menstrual products, arguing that they are essential goods rather than luxury items.
According to the department of customs, imported sanitary pads currently carry a total 18% of tax- 5% customs duty and 13% value added tax (VAT).
“The full text of the verdict has yet to be released, but once the decision is enforced, it will help promote domestic production, lower prices of sanitary pads, and potentially increase exports,” said Dol Raj Adhikari, president of the Nepal Sanitary and Diaper Association.
“With this ruling, sanitary pads will become 18 percent cheaper. For example, a packet priced at Rs.60 will now cost approximately Rs.50 after tax removal,”.
He added that it remains unclear whether both VAT and customs duties have been removed for imported products as well.
