While Kazakhstan is abolishing VAT on thousands of medications, feminine hygiene products remain subject to the tax. A proposal to change this has been posted on the official petition platform, epetition.kz.
Read also: ‘Bleeding is not my choice’: The fight for period products in public restrooms.
The petition’s author, Medina Fatima Maisar, argues that rising prices for sanitary pads and tampons could lead to health risks for women in Kazakhstan.
Rising costs strain low-income households
Maisar estimates that a pack of Magnum sanitary pads costs between 900 and 1,500 tenge ($1.90 to $3.00) for seven to eight pads. With typical monthly usage ranging from 20 to 50 pads, expenses can reach about $16 per month — a significant burden for low-income families.
Kazakhstan has nearly 1 million low-income residents, about half of whom are women.
‘Menstrual tax’ raises equality concerns
«Unfortunately, in my view, we have a tax that infringes on the rights and human dignity of women — the menstrual tax,» Maisar said. «To truly be a state governed by the rule of law, Kazakhstan should abolish taxes on essential items such as feminine hygiene products.»
Health and education impacts highlighted
Maisar cited a Kazakhstani study conducted by Umai Cup and SOAS involving more than 2,000 participants. According to the findings, 66% of respondents reported using improvised alternatives instead of sanitary products, while 10% of girls said they missed school or university because they could not afford them.
«Cutting back on hygiene products can have serious health consequences,» she said. «Doctors recommend changing pads every four hours, and prolonged use can lead to serious medical issues.»
International examples cited
The petitioner pointed to international precedents. Scotland became the first country to make sanitary products free in 2020. The United Kingdom abolished VAT on these items in 2021, and Austria eliminated VAT on sanitary products as of Jan. 1, 2026.
