A raft of global travel retail operators, led by the Duty Free World Council and Tax Free World Association, has issued a formal statement committing to fight “illicit” trading in the sales channel.
The ‘duty- and tax-free industry anti-illicit trade declaration’, unveiled this week, has been designed to formalise what has been until now an approach taken on an individual basis. The two trade organisations, joined by outlet operators including Dubai Duty Free, Dufry, Gebr. Heinemann, and Lagardère, are inviting “all industry retailers and suppliers” to sign up to oppose a system that “severely impacts the global duty- and tax-free industry through lost sales opportunities and reputational damage”.
Also name-checked in the statement are the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association, the International Association of Airport & Duty Free Stores and the Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association.
“Many retailers currently insist that suppliers have strict policies when it comes to issues such as environmental protection or human rights of workers and their suppliers and third parties,” the group of organisations said. “A further commitment on eradicating illicit trade is a natural extension of these policies.
“DFWC and TFWA are calling upon all industry retailers and suppliers to sign up to a clear anti-illicit trade statement, and to encourage a similar declaration from their business partners that they also take a zero-tolerance approach to illicit trade.”
This year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes takes place at the start of October.
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