Duty-free tobacco ban negotiations enter next stage
The next round of the negotiations on the illicit tobacco trade protocol commence on Sunday in Brussels
The next stage of negotiations on the World Health Organization (WHO) illicit tobacco trade protocol will commence in Brussels this Sunday. The latest round of discussions could be the last for the duty-free sector and may result in clearing the threat of a ban on the sale of all duty-free tobacco products, which has been discussed in previous International Negotiating Body meetings.
Only delegations from the countries involved in the negotiations will be present at the sessions, which are expect to last eight days. European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) secretary general Keith Spinks told DFNIonline: “The ETRC has fought a very professional campaign over the last few months. I do not know how it is going to go but I hope we can finally bring this to an end next week.”
Hume Brophy partner John Hume, who has been lobbying the European Union on the duty-free channel’s behalf, said he is hopeful the outcome will be positive for the industry. “We are in touch with most of the delegations involved and over the past few months we have certainly identified an understanding that there is no reason for duty-free to be abolished.
“There are those who have maintained their position and our worry is the longer this stays on the agenda the greater the danger of it resulting in a compromise, which helps nobody. But hopefully we will knock it into touch next week,” Hume added.
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