The Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs wishes to remind the general public that effective August 2, 2023 all sanitary napkins were zero-rated for Value Added Tax. As an additional support measure to ensure consumers benefit from the 12.5% VAT reduction, the Cabinet of Ministers approved an amendment to the Price Control Order No. 54 of 2008 to include sanitary napkins on the list of price-controlled goods effective, Monday October 23, 2023 with a maximum wholesale mark-up of 30% and a maximum retail mark-up of 35%.
Importers are reminded that the prices of these essential items must now be approved by the Consumer Affairs Department prior to sale, according to Section 35 of the Distribution and Price of Goods Act Cap 13.09 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia.
Further, wholesalers should state ‘the retail price fixed’ on all invoices for price-controlled goods when these items are sold to retailers. All stakeholders are reminded that as per Section 37 (1) a person shall not sell or offer for sale any good in excess of the maximum price fixed by the order.
Any contravention of this section is deemed an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.