Ald. Ed Burke (14th) called taxing tampons and pads "unfair" and "discriminatory." View Full Caption DNAinfo/Flickr: Brad Cerenzia

CITY HALL — The City Council called a halt to the so-called tampon tax Wednesday, redefining "feminine products" as "medical necessities" to make them exempt from city sales tax.

Aldermen voted 46-0 to eliminate the tax.

Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th), one of the lead sponsors of the measure, called a tax on tampons and sanitary napkins "unnecessary and discriminatory" toward women.

Ald. Edward Burke (14th) said it corrected a redefinition imposed by the state in 2009 that overruled an earlier state Supreme Court ruling making them tax-exempt.

The measure also urged the General Assembly to follow suit.

It will take effect in the city at the start of next year, after Springfield has a chance to make the law consistent statewide, a suggestion made by Illinois Retail Merchants Association spokeswoman Tanya Triche at the Finance Committee meeting that first passed the proposal last week.

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