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Re-classify sunscreen products as an essential healthcare item exempt from VAT

Submitted by Ben Robinson on Tuesday 24th November 2020

Published on Tuesday 1st December 2020

Current status: Closed

Closed: Tuesday 1st June 2021

Signatures: 22

Relevant Departments

Tagged with

DOUBLED ~ Essential ~ Re ~ UK

Petition Action

Re-classify sunscreen products as an essential healthcare item exempt from VAT

Petition Details

Currently, sunscreen is classed as a cosmetic and as such 20% VAT is applied.
Sunscreen should be re-classified as an essential healthcare product, which would mean that it is VAT exempt.

Additional Information

Cancer Research UK state that getting sunburnt just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma skin cancer, and that melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have more than doubled (135%) in the UK since the early 1990s.

The average bottle of sunscreen costs £5-£7, with over £1 of this being the VAT charge applied. Removing VAT from these essential items will encourage more people to protect themselves from the potentially harmful effects of too much sun.


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