This was supposed to be one of the Meloni government’s greatest strengths, but the new measures certainly do not go in the direction of greater stimulation of birth rates or active support for families. As announced recently, the government has not approved in the budget the reduction of VAT for sanitary pads and early childhood products to 5%, and this rate will return to 10%.
Powdered or liquid milk for the feeding of infants or young children, malt extracts, preparations for the nutrition of infants (flours, semolina, starches, starches or malt extracts, even with added cocoa in amounts of less than 50 percent by weight).
VAT is also increasing on sanitary napkins and tampons for the protection of women’s and early childhood hygiene, such as menstrual cups and baby diapers.
The value added tax on tampons (and early childhood products) had fallen from 22% to 10% during the 2022 fiscal law: it was 2021 and the Draghi government was still in office.
This rate was later increased from 10% to 5% by the current government. A plan that follows the plan of many other European countries, called the “tampon tax”. However, from all angles, the cut turned out to be a “one-off” and non-structural measure.
Moreover, this turnaround was also announced by Giorgia Meloni, who recently reiterated that “VAT cuts are covered by price increases in the vast majority of cases and therefore I do not think it is worth renewing the measure.”
The paradox of a government that (nominally) supports the family and then reverses its steps and legislates in the opposite direction remains.
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Source: Today IT
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
