In the UK, tampons are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) at a reduced rate of 5%, as opposed to the standard rate of 20% applied to the vast majority of products sold in the country.[7] A petition calling for tampons to be fully exempted from VAT gained more than 125,000 signatures. The petition pointed out that there is no tax on exotic meats, but it has also been noted that there is a 20% rate on toilet paper and toothpaste.[8] The petition gained the approval of Prime Minister David Cameron, who said "I wish we could get rid of this… There’s a problem with getting rid of VAT on certain individual issues because of the way this tax is regulated and set in Europe."[9] Changes to EU legislation, which would require the approval of all 27 EU member states, would be required to change the rate.[7]