INTERNATIONAL. The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has announced a postponement of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, which was due to take place on 27-30 November. The move was made due to the latest security situation in host country Panama.
The Protocol requires Parties to take comprehensive measures to prevent and counter the involvement of the tobacco industry in illicit trade. A key concern for the duty free & travel retail sector was Article 13, which sought to link illicit trade in tobacco products to duty free sales.
Duty Free World Council DFWC President, Sarah Branquinho issued the following statement in response: “The Duty Free World Council notes the decision of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat to postpone MOP3 due to the current security situation in Panama.
“While we await a date for MOP3 to be rescheduled the duty free industry will continue to use all available time to rebut inaccurate allegations that our industry is a material contributor to illicit trade and reiterate our offer to provide expertise and sector-specific knowledge to the anticipated study required under Article 13.2 of the Illicit Trade Protocol.
“We look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate the security and transparency of our supply chain in the study and remain confident that an objective and fairly run study will clearly show that these allegations are baseless. Meanwhile, we will continue to work closely and constructively with customs organisations and enforcement agencies around the world, as we have done for decades.” ✈
