Duty Free World Council President represents the Duty Free Trusted Transparent Secure campaign at The Economist Global Anti-Illicit Trade Summit in Warsaw, Poland. Sarah Branquinho discussed the impact of illicit trade and counterfeiting on our duty- and tax-free industry, and the reputational harm criminal activity causes.

The Duty Free World Council (DFWC), the global voice for the duty free and travel retail industry, and Tax Free World Association (TFWA), the association that brings together 520 supplier companies to the duty free and travel retail industry, have released a position paper on tackling illicit trade, counterfeiting, and intellectual property theft. It sets out five key recommendations, and calls on national governments and cross-border enforcement agencies to work with industry to put an end to the practice. Read the full position paper using the link below.

In it's 2020 update to its report "Controlling the Zone: Balancing Facilitation and Control to Combat Illicit Trade in Free Trade Zones", the International Chamber of Commerce notes the unintended role free trade zones (FTZs) have had in contributing to counterfeiting and piracy The updated report notes increasing work by governments and authorities to strengthen enforcement, but notes there is still more to be done. It is important to know that duty- and tax-free sales are not free zone sales. Duty free sales take place in a highly regulated retail environment e.g. airports, ports, ferries, cruise ships and land border shops, and their operations are governed by national customs authorities. Our supply chain is one of the most secure in the world with processes and technologies in place to provide for verification of registration, compliance, certification, review and audit.

Recent work by the OECD has shown that Free Trade Zones can offer advantages to businesses through lighter regulations, but also generate opportunities for illicit trade. Read more about the OECD's “Recommendation of the Council on Countering Illicit Trade: Enhancing Transparency in Free Trade Zones" here. It is important to know that duty- and tax-free sales are not free zone sales. Duty free sales take place in a highly regulated retail environment e.g. airports, ports, ferries, cruise ships and land border shops, and their operations are governed by national customs authorities. Our supply chain is one of the most secure in the world with processes and technologies in place to provide for verification of registration, compliance, certification, review and audit.