by Kristen Ku

BELMOPAN, Thurs. July 7, 2023

In a historic move, Belize’s Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, recently approved a waiver of duties and taxes on female sanitary products. The decision has been seen as a progressive step towards gender equality and is expected to reduce the financial burden on Belizean women and girls.

This decision, made during the Cabinet meeting on 4th July 2023, came after extensive discussions on numerous pertinent issues facing the nation. One of the critical subjects addressed was the ongoing burden of the so-called “Pink Tax”—an additional cost that women have to bear for products specifically designed for their use.

Since February 2023, the Belizean government had been lobbying the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) for a waiver on the Common External Tariff (CET) imposed on female sanitary products.

As part of its commitment to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Belize had sought and successfully secured approval for a suspension of the CET on sanitary towels and napkins for one year, and tampons for two years.

Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, in a previous discussion in April 2023, clarified the country’s position regarding the adjustment of import duties on sanitary products. “There are several taxes. The easy one which we already signed, the S.I. (Statutory Instrument) to remove is the GST (Goods and Services Tax), so that’s done. When it comes to import duty, we belong to the CARICOM; we belong to the CARICOM external tariff. We’d have to get a waiver from COTED. I understand the waiver has been applied for and is being looked at favorably,” explained Waight.

“We are giving no duty exemptions as such, but certainly, we have removed the GST. That is within our control. The import duty, we would have to get a waiver or an exemption from COTED, which is the arm of the CARICOM which deals with CARICOM trade and taxes,” Waight reiterated.

Following the waiver approval, the Belizean government is expected to introduce updates to its local regulations to reflect the zero-rating of duties on these products.

Sanitary products, while essential for women’s hygiene and well-being, have often been subjected to duties and taxes that make them unaffordable for many. The result is an ongoing struggle for countless Belizean women and girls, particularly those from low-income families.

This milestone in Belize’s journey toward gender equality has been warmly welcomed by local and international women’s rights advocates.

With Belize leading the way in the fight against the “Pink Tax,” it remains to be seen how many other CARICOM nations will follow suit in eliminating this discriminatory practice that affects half of the population. Meanwhile, the women of Belize eagerly await the forthcoming changes in local regulations that will officially enforce the elimination of the “Pink Tax” on female sanitary products.