Working together for VAT to be removed on Sunscreen
This article will take approximately 2 minutes to read
Published 6 Jul 2020 in Trading Groups
Further to Phil’s announcement in his blog a few weeks ago here, the wider campaign to have sunscreen products removed of 20% VAT begins today. Campaigning together to remove the VAT charge, it is being led by our Healthcare website (www.cooppharmacy.coop) in conjunction with our Food & Pharmacy branches along with TV medic Dr Hilary Jones.
Did you know in the UK, sunscreen is currently classified as a ‘cosmetic product’? However, Cancer Research UK states that getting sunburnt just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma skin cancer, and melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have more than doubled (135%) in the UK since the early 1990s.
This is why we're now asking all members, customers and colleagues to support and write to their MP’s asking for change.
Your Co-op - Campaigning For You
To ensure action, we are calling on the government to make the case and remove the 20% VAT, as we do not believe you should pay VAT on items that are crucial to protect people’s health. Helping us in our campaign is GP and TV medic Dr Hilary Jones, he explains, “Sunscreen is a really important medical product that prevents against the risk of skin cancer. I fully support the Co-op Midcounties campaign and it’s important that we get Ministers interested in removing VAT from sunscreen. There is a wide consensus of doctors, skin specialists, dermatologists and cancer specialists who would agree that sunscreen should be reclassified as a healthcare product.”
If we remove VAT from these essential items it will play a significant part in making sunscreen more affordable and encourage more people to protect themselves from the potentially harmful effects of exposure from the sun.
Watch our video on Dr Hilary Jones who discusses the importance of sunscreen and our campaign against VAT on sunscreen products:
Why we would like the change
The average bottle of sunscreen costs £5-£7, with around £1.50 of this being the VAT charge applied. In order to help reduce the price, we have already cut the cost of sunscreen by 20%(effectively paying the VAT for customers). These products can now be found available exclusively at Co-op Pharmacy online and within our Food stores.
Keep an eye out for the posters within our Food stores & Pharmacy branches
Along with the price cut, we have written to the government asking for sunscreen to be reclassified as an essential healthcare item, allowing it to be VAT exempt. However, to ensure we help our members, customers and colleagues stay safe in the sun, please sign the petition and write to your local MP; to encourage the government to take action.
How can you get involved?
It’s easy, please sign up to support our campaign here.
For more information and how you can write to your MP, including email templates see here.
Your Co-op - Campaigning For You