China condom tax risks global health crisis, experts warn

The China condom tax, effective from January 2026, could reduce contraceptive use and increase STIs such as HIV and syphilis, warn health experts.

The China condom tax, approved at the end of 2024 and set to take effect in January 2026, has drawn sharp criticism from public health experts. The measure removes the tax exemption on condoms, limiting access to a vital tool for preventing sexually transmitted infections.

According to Matteo Bassetti, Director of Infectious Diseases at the San Martino Hospital in Genoa (Italy), the China condom tax “shows how public policies can go wrong. After the one-child policy, the country is now obstructing tools that protect sexual health, increasing risks of HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and other infections.”

Bassetti also warns that China, with over 1.5 billion inhabitants, could become a “biological bomb” for the world: “If people use fewer condoms, sexually transmitted diseases can spread rapidly, affecting other countries as well.”

He points out the contrast with other nations: “In France, condoms are freely available to young people, whereas in Italy sexual education remains limited, condoms are expensive, and there is no pricing policy.”

In short, the China condom tax not only hinders individual prevention but also poses serious global health risks. Experts are urging policymakers to reconsider the measure before its consequences become irreversible.

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