Board To Discuss Sales Tax for Botox

Members of the Board of Equalization on Tuesday will meet to consider placing a sales tax on Botox, manufactured by Allergan, the Sacramento Bee reports. State auditors recently have questioned whether Botox can be considered a medication under BOE's definition when it is used for cosmetic purposes rather than curative purposes.

Allergan and some physician groups say cosmetic Botox was approved by FDA in 2002 for medical treatment and therefore should be tax-exempt.

Allergan has launched a $400,000 "grassroots communication marketing" campaign to convince California residents and state officials that the treatment should be tax-exempt, the Bee reports (McIntosh, Sacramento Bee, 1/31).