Cabinet, at its meeting of September 25, 2023 considered a memorandum dated September 25, 2023 submitted by the Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs, and approved the request for an amendment to Cabinet Conclusion No. 585 of August 7, 2023 to reflect the following:
- That the HS code of 9619.00.11 for women’s sanitary napkins be price controlled under Section A of the Schedule to the Distribution and Price of Goods Act, Cap. 13.09 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia;​
- A maximum wholesale mark-up of 30 percent and a maximum retail mark-up of 35 percent for women’s sanitary napkins; and
- That the amendment takes effect from Oct. 23, 2023 and ends on Aug. 1, 2025 to coincide with the end of the Zero-Rated Value Added Tax Policy.
SOURCE: Office of the Prime Minister
For a necessary product, I still find the markup of 30% and 35% too high. This is NOT a feminine luxury product, but a necessary and important product for the health and wellness of women, especially young girls who need this item, and are dependent on their working family members to purchase it for their use. Wake up Ministry of Commerce!