Nordic Travel Retail Group reacts to Norway tobacco threat

Gavin Lipsith

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The association is to talk to the government about planned tobacco marketing restrictions

The Nordic Travel Retail Group (NTRG) is to engage the Norwegian government to discuss the implications of proposed tobacco marketing restrictions in Norway on travel-retail. The proposals would mean that all tobacco products must be placed below the retail counter with no visible packs or merchandising.

NTRG discussed the challenge at a meeting at Oslo International airport last week, and decided to take up the government’s offer of establishing a dialogue.

NTRG president Erik Thomsen said: “There are a lot of unsolved issues regarding tobacco restrictions and travel-retail. The government has signaled that it is ready to discuss the best way forward. We will seize that opportunity. We have seen that Norwegian legislation on taxes and marketing issues quickly affects the rest of the Nordic countries, so it is important for all our members that we find reasonable solutions in Norway.”