ASUTIL forces Uruguayan allowance change

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The Latin American trade association succeeds in its petition to Uruguayan authorities, demanding that arrivals allowances be brought into line with Mercosur norms

Latin American trade association ASUTIL has won an important battle in its fight to increase the liquor and tobacco allowance for travellers purchasing from arrivals stores in Uruguay. After sustained lobbying from ASUTIL, a decree issued by the Uruguayan government last month will bring Uruguay into line with other Mercosur countries.

In 2000, the authorities in Uruguay set a limit of $300 for purchases in arrivals stores, but limited liquor and tobacco purchases to two bottles of spirits or 400 cigarettes. Last month's decree acknowledges the discrepancies between Uruguay's policy and that of its neighbouring states, where no secondary limit is placed on liquor and tobacco purchases. The decree also recognises the potential harm to Uruguay's duty-free operators. Uruguayan Customs will now work to bring arrivals allowances in line with Mercosur policy.

Meanwhile, ASUTIL celebrates the tenth anniversary of its founding this year, a milestone that will be saluted at this year's ASUTIL Conference, to be held in Buenos Aires on September 7-9. For more information on the event, jointly organised by ASUTIL and Raven Fox, see http://www.asutil.org.