It doesn't stop them assuming the authority to rid the world of duty free baccy, though.
European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) secretary general Keith Spinks has warned that there are just weeks left for the global tobacco duty-free channel to lobby for a change to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) protocol on illicit trade that threatens a ban on the sale and import of duty-free tobacco products. The wording of the misleading protocol associating duty-free tobacco with smuggling is up for negotiation on June 28.
Hands up if you knew about this. No? Neither did anyone else.
“If they have not already done so companies urgently need to convey to the authorities that this issue is on the table for negotiation on June 28 and persuade them of the importance of ensuring that they oppose anything that calls for the abolition of duty-free sales of tobacco products to international travellers,” he said.
If the WHO get their unelected way, duty free will be on its way to oblivion by July.
So much for democratic process in a free world.
Remember to tell your friends before they go on holiday, won't you?
5 comments:
Dick, I'm confused about this proposal. I do know that 'duty free' is different from bringing tobacco from any EU country, and that these products are 'duty paid' in the country you buy them and bring them home from. Most of the EU countries tobacco is cheaper than UK and therefore worth bringing your allowed limit. Is the WHO suggesting that we should not be able to do this as well as banning 'duty free' from non-EU countries, where the limit is 200cigs or 1x5pkts tobacco.
More oppresion from an unelected body of faceless control freaks.
The WHO can fuck off! Duty Free tobacco is the main reason I take the family on hols abroad!
The WHO should stick to dealing with SWINE-FLU.
Since when did we vote in the biggest pharmaceutical voice ever, people should be made more aware of the dangers of their DRUGS and potions. Power does corrupt, there is no doubt about that, just look at our government.
Big Pharma must be the biggest cost to the NHS than any other cause. Countries that have the longest living peoples, do not have a chemist on the doorstep, or get a prescription for every ailment, is that why they live so long!
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