DFWC gathers evidence against illicit trade allegations in duty free tobacco
Duty Free World Council (DFWC) held an online media briefing on Thursday, April 24, to update members of the trade media on the World Health Organization (WHO) Illicit Trade Protocol MOP4 campaign. DFWC revealed that its ongoing fight against WHO’s illicit trade allegations has been supported by evidence from continued engagement with customs authorities globally. At no point has there been a request to update systems or any issues in connection to duty free tobacco products.
A key finding from an updated study commissioned by DFWC shows that the duty free and travel retail channel is responsible for 0.056% of illicit trade (slightly down from 2023). A single clandestine cigarette factory attributes more to the cause of the illicit trade of tobacco than the entire duty free channel.
The travel retail industry is mobilizing with government bodies around the world and hearing the same response: it is not the problem. DFWC would like to thank retailers for their continued support. When asked about its direct message to the industry, a DFWC spokesperson noted the Duty Free: Trusted, Transparent, Secure campaign, which looks to raise awareness of the issue of illicit trade, counterfeiting and intellectual property theft. Referring to the need for cross-category support, a second individual remarked, “It’s about defending the integrity of our market against global criminality.”
