Tag: Duty Free World Council

  • Duty Free Welcomes Illicit Trade Investigation

    Duty Free Welcomes Illicit Trade Investigation

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    The Duty Free World Council (DFWC) has welcomed the decision of Parties to the Illicit Trade Protocol to proceed with evidence-based research to “ascertain the extent of illicit trade in tobacco products related to duty free sales” as mandated by Article 13.2 of the Protocol.

    Article 13.2 of the Protocol requires the research to be conducted no later than five years after the Protocol entered into force. Parties to the Protocol agreed to commission the research at the Third Meeting of the Parties (MOP3), which took place in Panama City, Feb. 12-15, 2024, having been delayed from its initial date of late November 2023.

    The overarching focus of the Illicit Trade Protocol is to target material sources of illicit trade of tobacco products in the global economy.

    “We have always been clear that we reject unfair and unsubstantiated allegations that our industry is a major contributor to illicit trade,” said DFWC President Sarah Branquinho.

    “Our supply chain is one of the most secure and transparent in the world, and we have worked closely with customs and enforcement agencies across the world for decades to ensure criminal activities such as illicit trade have no place in it.

    We therefore welcome the decision of the Protocol Parties to proceed with the planned evidence-based research, and we look forward to the opportunity to clearly demonstrate that our industry is a partner in the fight against illicit trade, not a contributor to it.”

  • DFA Signs Anti-Illicit Trade Declaration

    DFA Signs Anti-Illicit Trade Declaration

    Duty Free Americas has signed the Duty Free World Council (DFWC) and Tax Free World Association (TFWA) anti-illicit trade declaration.

    With over 200 stores in airports and border crossings throughout the Americas, the addition of Duty Free Americas to the declaration marks a major extension of the duty-free and tax-free industry’s public commitment to combat illicit trade, counterfeiting and intellectual property theft.

    The DFWC and the TFWA launched the anti-illicit trade declaration in July 2023. By signing the declaration, signatories commit to a zero-tolerance approach to illicit trade within their own organization.

    “The DFWC/TFWA anti-illicit trade declaration continues to grow in strength, and I am very pleased to welcome Duty Free Americas as the most recent signatory to this important initiative,” said DFWC President Sarah Branquinho.

    “Our industry boasts one of the most transparent, trusted and secure supply chains in the world, and this campaign sends a clear message to our millions of customers around the world that they can shop in duty[-free] and tax-free stores around, confident that the products they are purchasing are authentic and genuine.

    “Signatories to this declaration are making a firm public commitment to never permit any form of illicit trade, counterfeiting or intellectual property theft and to hold their commercial partners to that same standard. We welcome the support of any travel retail operator or supplier [who] wishes to be a part of the declaration, and we continue to encourage members of our industry to join us.”