THE TAX on tampons will be raised with the European Commission after MPs voted yesterday to make women continue to pay VAT on them, a Treasury minister said.

David Gauke said the government sympathised with the campaign to scrap or reduce the 5 per cent tax rate on sanitary products but that Britain was unable to act alone.

MPs rejected a proposed amendment to the Finance Bill, which would have made tampons and sanitary towels exempt from VAT by next April, by 305 votes to 287.

A petition calling for a change in the law has received more than 250,000 signatures.

HM Revenue and Customs says the rate of VAT charged is the lowest allowed under EU law, despite sanitary products being widely considered non-luxury items.

The “reduced” 5 per cent rate also applies to mobility aids for elderly people and energy supplies to homes.

Mr Gauke admitted that there was “considerable cross-party support” for abolishing the tax on sanitary products.

He added: “I will raise this issue with the European Commission and other member states, setting out our views that it should be possible for member states to apply a zero rate to sanitary products.”