Law paving way for free period products takes effect

A new law that opens the door to free period products on the island is now in force, Energy FM reported on 29 October.

The Period Products (Free Provision) Act 2026 took effect after Royal Assent was announced at Tynwald earlier this month.

According to Energy FM, the legislation aims to tackle period poverty and support health and wellbeing. It backs efforts to make period products freely available to those who need them and gives the power to create a scheme to provide them.

Joney Faragher MHK introduced the bill. Energy FM said it was modelled on arrangements already in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the goals of making products easier to obtain and tackling the stigma attached to menstruation.

Ms Faragher said: “Period products are an essential, not a luxury.” She added that no one should be left worrying about the cost or missing school, work or other parts of daily life for want of them.

She said she hoped the law would “make a real difference to people across our Island”.

The act itself does not establish a scheme. Energy FM reported that any proposal will first go out to consultation and must be agreed by the Treasury before it can be put to Tynwald for approval.