Duty Free Americas signs against illicit trade

Global travel retailer Duty Free Americas has joined as a signatory of the Duty Free World Council (DFWC) and Tax Free World Association’s (TFWA) anti-illicit trade declaration.

DFWC and TFWA launched the anti-illicit trade declaration in July 2023. By signing the declaration, signatories commit to a zero-tolerance approach to illicit trade, counterfeiting and intellectual property theft within their organisations.

The World Economic Forum estimates that illicit trade costs US$2.2 trillion every year in lost sales.

According to Euromonitor International, up to 26% of alcohol consumed worldwide is estimated to be illicit, causing fiscal revenue losses of around US$8.9 billion every year.

Duty Free Americas, which has more than 200 stores in airports and border crossings, has joined seven other travel retailers in signing the declaration.

Other signatories include Aer Rianta International (ARI), DFS, Dubai Duty Free, Dufry, Heinemann, Lagardère Travel Retail and Qatar Duty Free.

DFWC president Sarah Branquinho said: “The DFWC and 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.

“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- and tax-free stores confident that the products they are purchasing are authentic and genuine.”

Branquinho has previously urged consumers to be aware that when they purchase goods labelled as ‘duty free’ outside of a licensed duty free retailer, it is “very likely to be a counterfeit product”.