Column · Around the world
Edition 1
September 2026
The Reading Room
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Free to read · Canada
Edition 1 · Published by Periodica ·
The Reading Room · Edition 1 ·
Period care elsewhere
Scotland made period products free. What the law actually says
At a glance
Who it’s for: Anyone who has heard that Scotland made period products free, and wants to know what that means.
Reading time: About 10 min
On this page:
- The law in one sentence
- Who has to provide them, and to whom
- How: easily, with dignity, with choice
- When it started
- Two things it didn’t do
- Meanwhile in Canada
- What this is not
In three points:
- In Scotland, each council must make period products obtainable free of charge by all persons who need to use them.
- Scotland’s law is about free products. It does not change any tax.
- In Canada, free products come through some workplaces, schools and community programs, and what exists varies by province and territory.
Since August 2022, Scottish law has required councils to make period products free for anyone who needs them (Scotland’s official guidance says visitors are included), and schools, colleges and universities to do the same for their students. Here is what the law requires, what it doesn’t do, and what exists in Canada.
General information, not medical advice. A summary of a law, not legal advice. If you need period products now
- Section 1(1)The law in one sentence
- Wait. What? · Visitors tooNo proof of residence
- Two mix-upsTwo things it didn’t do
About this Column · Editor’s Note
Dear reader,
You may have read that Scotland made period products free. It did, and the details are worth knowing. This Column reports the law in its own words, and the Scottish Government’s guidance in its own words, with dates. It does not say whether the law works well: we did not read any study of that. It also clears up two common mix-ups. If you have picked up free period products in Scotland, or anywhere else, tell the Editor.
— The Editor
In January 2021, a short Scottish law with a plain aim received Royal Assent. Its long title reads: “An Act of the Scottish Parliament to secure the provision throughout Scotland of free period products.” This Column reports what that law, the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021, requires. It covers who must provide products, to whom, how and since when. Then it turns to two things the law did not do, and to what exists in Canada.
The law in one sentence
“Each local authority must ensure that, within its area, period products are obtainable free of charge (in accordance with arrangements established and maintained by the local authority) by all persons who need to use them.”
Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021, section 1(1), as enacted.
A local authority is a council. The amount must be “sufficient… to meet the person’s needs while in Scotland”.
Glossary · Local authority
A council in Scotland. The Act’s main duty sits with councils.
The law also says what counts. “‘Period products’ means manufactured articles the purpose of which is to absorb or collect menstrual flow.” Types “include tampons, sanitary towels and articles which are reusable”. “Sanitary towels” is what UK law calls period pads.
Glossary · Sanitary towel
The UK’s legal and everyday term for a period pad.
Who has to provide them, and to whom
Councils, for everyone who needs them. Each council must set up arrangements in its area (see above). Someone else can collect products for you: the arrangements “must include provision under which period products are obtainable by another person on behalf of the person who needs to use them”. A council may post products and charge for packing and delivery, except where a person “could not reasonably obtain products” another way. The guidance adds that postal delivery “should not be the only way”.
Schools, colleges and universities, for their pupils and students. Each must make products free to its pupils or students, with “at least one location in each building which is normally used by pupils or, as the case may be, students”, and enough for their needs during “term times”. The Act makes one exception: no location is needed in a building that the provider, after consulting, “considers… is not a suitable place for the provision of period products”.
Other public bodies, if named later. The Act lets Scottish Ministers name other public bodies by regulations. Each body named must provide products on its premises. The 2021 guidance said: “No bodies have been so specified at the point of the initial publication of this Guidance.” We searched Scotland’s published regulations by title in September 2026 and found none naming bodies under this section. We have not confirmed whether that has changed in another way.
Glossary · Responsible body
The Act’s term for a council, a school, college or university, or a named public body with a duty to provide products.
Visitors too. The guidance says the law covers “everyone in Scotland who menstruates”, and that “This includes visitors to Scotland for the duration of their stay.” It also says: “No proof of residence should be required to access free products.”
How: easily, with dignity, with choice
The Act sets three tests for every arrangement. Products must be obtainable “reasonably easily”, “in a way that respects the dignity of persons obtaining them”, and with “a reasonable choice of different types of period products”. Bodies must also tell the public “that period products are obtainable free of charge”, and how to get them.
The Scottish Government’s guidance explains what that means in practice. Bodies “must have regard to it”, but they “are not compelled to follow” it. Its main lines:
Glossary · Statutory guidance
Official guidance that bodies “must have regard to”, though they are “not compelled to follow” it.
Says who? Scottish Government.
- No questions. “There must be no judgement as to the need, no limit to the amount of products an individual can take, nor attempts to ‘ration’ products. Individuals don’t need a reason to access the products, above and beyond the fact that they menstruate”.
- No forms. There should be “no forms to complete or other information required before people can access products, unless this information is necessary to respond to local asks around design or to allow postal delivery”.
- No other test. Access “must not be contingent on accessing, or being eligible for, another form of support.”
- Choice. Councils, schools, colleges and universities “would be expected to make at least one type of tampon, sanitary towel and reusable product available”. They “are not obliged to make particular brands of products available”.
- Reusables. Free reusables may need to be asked for, “given the significantly increased cost over single use products”. And: “There should be no pressure applied to people who do not wish to use reusable products”.
- Everyone who menstruates. Arrangements must “allow any individual who menstruates, including transgender men and non-binary individuals, to access products”. The guidance also notes that “in some cases men may wish to access products for free for family members or partners”. In practice, it says, this is likely to mean products in, for example, “at least some gender neutral toilets, disabled toilets… or male-only spaces”.
A note on words: the law and the sources we quote say “sanitary towels”, and the UK Treasury says “women’s sanitary products”. We keep their words so we report them accurately. In our own words, we say “period pads”. The Reading Room is for everyone who menstruates.
When it started
The Act became law in 2021, but its main duties started later.
Timeline
- From 2018/19: the Scottish Government funded voluntary free provision “in education and community settings”.
- 2020: the Period Products in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020. The Act later revoked them.
- 12 January 2021: the Act receives Royal Assent.
- 18 March 2021: the duties on guidance and consultation (sections 5 to 7) start.
- 27 September 2021: the Scottish Government publishes its guidance.
- 15 August 2022: the main duties (sections 1 to 4 and 8) start.
Glossary · Royal Assent and commencement
Royal Assent is the day a bill becomes law. Commencement is the day its duties start. For this Act: 12 January 2021, and 15 August 2022 for the main duties.
Two things it didn’t do
It didn’t change any tax. Scotland’s law is about free products. It does not change any tax.
It didn’t end the “tampon tax”. That was a UK-wide change, made by HM Treasury in London. On 1 January 2021, the Treasury announced: “The ‘tampon tax’ has been abolished - with a zero rate of VAT applying to women’s sanitary products coming into effect today (1 January 2021).” It explained that “the UK is no longer bound by the EU VAT Directive which mandates a minimum 5% tax on all sanitary products.” VAT is the UK’s sales tax.
Glossary · Zero-rated (VAT)
Taxed at 0%. The UK has zero-rated these products since 1 January 2021.
Says who? HM Treasury.
The two dates are 11 days apart: the UK’s zero rate took effect on 1 January 2021, and Scotland’s Act received Royal Assent on 12 January 2021.
It also helps to know what the law does not promise. The duties sit with councils, schools, colleges, universities and any bodies named later. The Act puts no duty on shops or other businesses.
Scotland’s law is not the only free-products scheme in the UK. HM Treasury’s 2021 announcement, for example, lists “January 2020’s roll out of free period products for all young people in English state schools and colleges”. We have not checked whether that scheme continues today.
Meanwhile in Canada
- At federally regulated workplaces, the employer “shall provide menstrual products, including clean and hygienic tampons and menstrual pads, in each toilet room.” If that “is not feasible”, the employer must provide them in another location in the same work place that it controls, that employees can reach at all times, and that offers “a reasonable amount of privacy”. This has applied since 15 December 2023. More in “Period products at work: the federal rule in Canada”.
- Beyond federally regulated workplaces, free products come through some workplaces, schools and community programs, and what exists varies by province and territory. Our guide lists them by province: “Free period products in Canada, by province and program”.
- Periodica does not run or fund any of these programs.
- Want to help? Food Banks Canada’s Menstrual Equity Fund page explains the program, or look for a local charity near you.
If you need period products now, in Canada
- “Free period products in Canada, by province and program”.
- At work, if your employer is federally regulated: “Period products at work: the federal rule in Canada”.
- Community help: call 2-1-1 or go to 211.ca (in most of Canada), or use Food Banks Canada’s Find a Food Bank.
- To help others: Food Banks Canada’s Menstrual Equity Fund page, or a local charity.
What this is not
This Column summarises a Scottish law and the Scottish Government’s guidance, dated, in their own words. It is general information, not legal advice. It does not say how well the law works, or what Canada should do. Laws and guidance change: check the dates in the sources.
Drafted and checked against its sources with our proud team of AI assistants; read and signed by the Editor.
This Column is general information, compiled by the Editor from the sources listed below. It is not medical advice, and the Editor is not a healthcare provider. For anything about your own health, talk to a healthcare provider.
No rush. We like reading slowly, one short piece at a time. The articles will wait for you.
Sources the Editor read (7)
All consulted 2026-09-28 unless stated.
- Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021, asp 1, as enacted (Royal Assent 2021-01-12). legislation.gov.uk
- The same Act on legislation.gov.uk, with commencement notes: the Commencement No. 1 Regulations 2021 (S.S.I. 2021/104) and the Commencement No. 2 Regulations 2022 (S.S.I. 2022/208). legislation.gov.uk
- legislation.gov.uk, title search of Scottish Statutory Instruments for “period products” (2026-09-28). legislation.gov.uk
- Scottish Government, “Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021: guidance – September 2021” (published 2021-09-27). gov.scot
- HM Treasury, “Tampon tax abolished from today” (2021-01-01). gov.uk
- Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, SOR/86-304, s. 9.17 (current to 2026-09-21; consulted 2026-09-28). laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
- Employment and Social Development Canada, “Requirements for employers to provide menstrual products in federally regulated workplaces” (page details 2023-11-15; consulted 2026-09-27). canada.ca
Date due for review
| Written by | The Editor |
| Last checked | 28 Sep 2026 |
| Next check | Mar 2027 |
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