Provision of Free Period Products : Public Consultation

Overview

Period inequality contributes to the poor mental health and wellbeing experience of those who are unable to access the basic health essentials of period products. This is a growing issue particularly in light of the increased cost of living.

Period products are essential items for personal care to address a normal biological need and should therefore be available to everyone who needs them, regardless of their economic status.

To address this gap the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (NI) was made by the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022 and requires that period products will be made available from May 2024. The requirements of the Act go beyond seeking to make provision for those in financial difficulty. Rather, as stated above, there is a recognition that period products are necessary and essential items that should be available free of charge and accessible by all persons who need to use them.

This consultation seeks your views on how best the Executive Office (TEO) can ensure that period products are “obtainable free of charge” by “all persons who need to use them”, “while in Northern Ireland”.

Further detail on the background is contained in the full consultation document available here: www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-free-period-products.

Consultation

The consultation will run for 12 weeks from 26 June 2023 – 18 September 2023. The responses will then be analysed and considered, alongside the responses we received from our engagement process, to inform the development of the arrangements to implement the Act.

It should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete these questions and we want to hear from as many people as possible on all the questions in the consultation.

Impact Assessments

A Section 75 Equality Screening, Rural Needs Impact Assessment, Data Protection Impact Assessment and Human Rights Impact Assessment have been completed, the outcomes of which are available at the bottom of this page or by clicking here:

www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-free-period-products

Alternative Formats

Copies in other languages and formats, (including Braille, large print etc.), can be made available on request. If it would assist you to access this document in an alternative format or language other than English, please contact us using the e-mail or postal address below.

E-mail at:

period.products@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk 

Or:

Post at:    

Equality Policy & Legislation Team

The Executive Office

Room A5.1

5th Floor Castle Buildings

Stormont Estate

Belfast

BT4 3SR

By Telephone:

02890 522 907