China has ended a long-standing tax exemption on contraceptive drugs and devices such as condoms and birth control pills by applying a 13% value-added tax from January 1 2026
China’s government has moved to bolster its shrinking population by removing a decades-old tax exemption on contraceptives, imposing a standard 13% value-added tax on condoms and birth control drugs from January 1. The decision is part of Beijing’s wider push to counter three consecutive years of population decline, even as authorities roll out other fertility-friendly measures like childcare subsidies and campaigns promoting marriage and family life. Critics say the new tax could make contraception costlier without significantly influencing birth decisions, reflecting the difficulty China faces in tackling demographic challenges shaped by rapid urbanization, high child-rearing costs, and long-lasting social attitudes.
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