ITRC calls for clear duty-free definition under WHO

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The International Travel Retail Confederation (ITRC) has today clarified how it sees duty-free retailing within the context of the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This was necessary because of the confusion between delegations at the FCTC's last negotiating session in April, to divorce duty-free retail from allegations of smuggling. The organisation is calling on the industry for support in the battle to remove WHO proposals to ban duty-free tobacco.

The ITRC said it believes the industry must take every opportunity to firmly call for the separation of duty free retailing from allegations of smuggling levelled against other means of duty-free trade in tobacco products.

ITRC director general Keith Spinks commented today: "Since abolition of intra-EU duty free, it has been recognised that prohibiting duty-free retailing has no impact on overall tobacco consumption. I believe our detailed but straightforward explanation will provide the necessary impetus for delegations to separate the controlled duty-free retail regime from other "duty not paid" tobacco trade. We must make clear that duty free sales to the travelling consumer is a legitimate part of the travel experience and its abolition will not contribute to the WHO's health policy objectives."