Friday, the UK had become the latest country to stop taxing women’s sanitary products. The British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak had previously committed to ending the widely notorious tax on these products, however, it only came into effect Friday due to Britain’s exit from the EU.

Under EU law, member states are not permitted to lessen value-added tax on sanitary products below five percent, as they are perceived as “luxury items” and not essentials.

“Sanitary products are essential,” said Sunak, “so it’s right that we do not charge VAT.”

According to Sunak, efforts to offer women’s sanitary products free of charge in most schools, colleges, and hospitals has been made, describing the abolishment of VAT on these products as a further commitment to make them available and affordable for all women.

Through these efforts, it is estimated that a woman will save an average of GBP 45 over her lifetime.

Many other countries have abolished value-added tax on these products, including Australia, India and Canada.