Date Published: 12/11/2020
ARCHIVED - Spain to slash VAT on face masks from 21 to 4 per cent
ARCHIVED ARTICLE Disposable masks are an environmental timebomb, taking up to 400 years to decompose and we're consuming millions every week
Considerable pressure has been brought to bear on the Spanish government over the last couple of months due to face masks being significantly more expensive in this country than in some other European nations, and in response it was announced on Wednesday that the rate of VAT charged on the products, which have of course become essential to members of the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, is to be cut from 21 per cent to 4 per cent.
During the summer it became apparent that some Spaniards were travelling into Portugal to stock up on masks by bulk buying at far lower prices than those which could be found in Spain, and finally the government has given way to the resulting complaints and criticism. María Jesús Montero, the Minister for Hacienda, explains that the new VAT rate will become effective as of next Tuesday 17th November, adding that at the same time plans are afoot to reduce the maximum sale price of masks from 96 cents each: this limit was established late in the spring, when the de-escalation of lockdown measures began.
In reality, masks are now being sold by most supermarket chains at considerably lower prices than those sold by pharmacies for 0.96 cents, with most of the public opting for the more economical models, due to the necessity of wearing masks in public at all times.
Justifying the delay in the government’s modification of the VAT rate, Sra Montero commented that only now has the approval of the EU been received: she reports that on Tuesday confirmation was given by Brussels that no punitive action will be taken against Spain for going against European guidelines in this case.
The move is bound to be welcomed by most people in Spain, but it should be pointed out that in consequence the government will be losing an estimated 1,568 million euros in VAT revenue. This figure is based only on the number of masks used by the general public, as the specialized masks used by hospital and medical centre staff were exempted from VAT earlier in the year.
Masks take up to 400 years to decompose ; calls for responsible disposal of used masks
Every month some 129,000 million disposable masks are now being consumed in the world due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, a mindboggling amount of potential rubbish.
But these masks are creating an environmental timebomb for the future, as research indicates that the disposable masks being used by most of the population can take up to 400 years to decompose if not managed properly.
In the specific case of Spain, the madri + d Foundation for Knowledge argues that if half of Spaniards used a new surgical mask a day, around 705 million would be consumed per month.
So please dispose of them carefully!