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European Travel Retail Confederation

ETRC

The European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) is an industry association for the duty free and travel retail industry in Europe, serving the industry and its members to help create the right environment to allow the industry to achieve its potential and protect it when challenges arise.

Lobbying Activity

Response to Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus

8 Oct 2025

Duty free and travel retail is a unique retail channel catering to the international traveller and a significant source of income and marketing opportunities for European businesses. It requires tailored legislative and regulatory solutions to those used in European domestic markets. ETRC urges EU regulators to formally allow for product information to be provided by means other than on the package or on the label to better inform consumers in the digital age. The travel environment is driven by innovation, and digital solutions are fully part of the passenger experience. Mobile boarding passes, for instance, are now a standard for airlines and passengers across the globe. ETRC advocates strongly that regulators consider adapting the application of existing EU legislation to the DFTR channel. This is necessary to take into account retrospectively the international marketplace that is being served, and the nature and place of final consumption of the goods retailed. In the event of new legislation being put forward, this should at all times include specific rules tailored to the needs of this unique channel. ETRC is not advocating for the channel to be fully exempted from labelling and packaging rules. We do, however, need flexibility in how we communicate with our customers. ETRC argues that digital labelling through which mandatory information can be provided in a consumer-friendly format is the optimum solution to comply fully with regulatory requirements, while enabling the Duty Free & Travel Retail channel to continue to thrive and propose iconic products targeting an international audience. This is in particular the case for multiple languages, which should be allowed to be provided via digital means rather than on-pack. Not only can we meet the policy objectives of the regulations, but we can do so in a more effective manner for our retail channel than that required by the regulations. In this case by providing mandatory product information to international consumers in multiple languages via digital labelling, instead of on-pack labelling in the language of the country in which the product is being sold.
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Response to Digital package – digital omnibus

8 Oct 2025

Duty free and travel retail is a unique retail channel catering to the international traveller and a significant source of income and marketing opportunities for European businesses. It requires tailored legislative and regulatory solutions to those used in European domestic markets. ETRC urges EU regulators to formally allow for product information to be provided by means other than on the package or on the label to better inform consumers in the digital age. The travel environment is driven by innovation, and digital solutions are fully part of the passenger experience. Mobile boarding passes, for instance, are now a standard for airlines and passengers across the globe. ETRC advocates strongly that regulators consider adapting the application of existing EU legislation to the DFTR channel. This is necessary to take into account retrospectively the international marketplace that is being served, and the nature and place of final consumption of the goods retailed. In the event of new legislation being put forward, this should at all times include specific rules tailored to the needs of this unique channel. ETRC is not advocating for the channel to be fully exempted from labelling and packaging rules. We do, however, need flexibility in how we communicate with our customers. ETRC argues that digital labelling through which mandatory information can be provided in a consumer-friendly format is the optimum solution to comply fully with regulatory requirements, while enabling the Duty Free & Travel Retail channel to continue to thrive and propose iconic products targeting an international audience. This is in particular the case for multiple languages, which should be allowed to be provided via digital means rather than on-pack. Not only can we meet the policy objectives of the regulations, but we can do so in a more effective manner for our retail channel than that required by the regulations. In this case by providing mandatory product information to international consumers in multiple languages via digital labelling, instead of on-pack labelling in the language of the country in which the product is being sold.
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Meeting with Filippo Terruso (Cabinet of Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas)

21 Feb 2025 · Presentation of ETRC's main activities

Meeting with Magda Kopczynska (Director-General Mobility and Transport)

31 Oct 2023 · 1) Duty free sales 2) Baggage and duty-free goods 3) Sustainability

Response to Reopening duty free shops in the Channel tunnel terminals in France.

14 Feb 2022

The European Duty Free and Travel Retail sector provides vital revenue for funding transport infrastructure and supporting local economies and employment. ETRC therefore fully supports the Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 2008/118/EC and Directive (EU) 2020/262 (recast) to allow the sale of Duty Free products at tax free shops situated in the French terminal of the Channel Tunnel. This will align the rules applicable to the Channel Tunnel with those provided for in airports and seaports for journeys to a third country from the European Union and ensure a level playing field vis-à-vis their counterparts in the UK. As part of that proposal, ETRC also invites the Council to consider further amendments to Directive 2008/118/EC and Directive (EU) 2020/262 to allow Duty Free sales on arrival at EU airports and ports for travellers from a third territory or country having taken a flight or sea-crossing. Currently, travellers to the EU can only avail of their authorised Duty Free allowances on departure from a third country. Our proposal will give the choice to those passengers to also buy those goods on arrival at an EU airport before clearing customs. Airside airport retailing is a safe, clearly defined and naturally controlled shopping environment, as it is only accessible to travellers with valid proof of transportation. As EU Duty Free allowances will stay the same, there will be no major impact upon government revenues or domestic retailers. Customers travelling from third countries will not be allowed to bring in any extra Duty Free products – they will simply be allowed to avail of their Duty Free allowances on arrival at an EU airport rather than having to do so at an earlier stage of their journey. This model is already successfully in place in 60+ countries around the world, including most neighbouring countries to the EU, bringing a substantial contribution to the funding of their transport ecosystem, wider benefits to national economies and a popular service for international travellers. At present, EU airports & ports are denied this commercial opportunity due to the current provisions of the EU Excise Directives. A few simple additional amendments to the Excise Duty Directives would allow arrivals Duty Free thereby making a substantial contribution to the recovery of the EU transport system and helping safeguard the sector from job losses. This was identified as a priority measure by the EU Roundtable on Aviation Paper on measures to be taken to help the European aviation sector recover from the COVID 19 crisis. Please find in attachment for further information a joint paper from ETRC together with ACI EUROPE and the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF).
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Response to Revision of Food Information to Consumers for what concerns labelling rules on alcoholic beverages

16 Jul 2021

ETRC, the European Travel Retail Confederation, welcomes the opportunity to give feedback on the European Commission’s roadmap on the revision of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, for what concerns labelling rules on alcoholic beverages. ETRC fully supports the principle that consumers should have access to relevant and meaningful information on the products they wish to purchase and consume, including alcoholic beverage products. To that end, we believe digital means offer a great opportunity to effectively communicate product information to consumers via means other than the label, packaging or leaflet, while ensuring compliance with regulations. ETRC has developed extensive experience on the matter via the development of our project, Duty Free Label.
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Meeting with Chris Uregian (Cabinet of Vice-President Margaritis Schinas), Despina Spanou (Cabinet of Vice-President Margaritis Schinas), Maria-Myrto Kanellopoulou (Cabinet of Vice-President Margaritis Schinas) and

1 Jul 2021 · Implementation Covid Certificate

Meeting with Anthony Whelan (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen) and Airlines for Europe and

1 Jul 2021 · EU COVID Certificate

Response to Setting of nutrient profiles

3 Feb 2021

ETRC, the European Travel Retail Confederation, welcomes the opportunity to give feedback on the European Commission Food labelling - revision of rules on information provided to consumers roadmap. The revision of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 provides a welcome opportunity to revisit the way in which mandatory product information can be provided to consumers in line with the EU’s green and digital objectives. ETRC fully supports the efforts of the EU to help consumers lead healthier lifestyles and would like to highlight the role that digitalisation can play in achieving this goal. For full response, please see attachment.
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Meeting with Gerassimos Thomas (Director-General Taxation and Customs Union)

27 Nov 2020 · Videoconference - Discussion on Excise and VAT rules

Meeting with Henrik Hololei (Director-General Mobility and Transport) and Airports Council International - European Region

6 Nov 2020 · Arrivals Duty Free

Response to Farm to Fork Strategy

11 Mar 2020

ETRC, the European Travel Retail Confederation, welcomes the opportunity to give feedback on the European Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy roadmap. ETRC would like to highlight the potential that the Farm to Fork Strategy can have for consumers and businesses, working alongside another EU Priority; achieving a Europe Fit for the Digital Age. In the recently published European Green Deal, the European Commission announced that it will “look at exploring new ways to give consumers better information, including by digital means”, thus clearly recognising that digitalisation can help deliver a clean and circular economy. This was recently reinforced in the Communication from the European Commission “Shaping Europe's digital future”, in which the Commission announces its ambition to deliver on a new Consumer Agenda by the end of this year, “which will empower consumers to make informed choices and play an active role in the digital transformation”. ETRC would like to invite the European Commission to consider digital means as a legally recognised option to provide mandatory product information, potentially reducing packaging waste, and adapt the relevant regulatory framework as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy. Please see attachment for more information.
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Meeting with David Boublil (Cabinet of Commissioner Pierre Moscovici)

4 Sept 2019 · Excise and VAT Directives

Meeting with Joshua Salsby (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

5 Mar 2019 · Aviation topics

Meeting with Nathalie Chaze (Cabinet of Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis)

20 Jun 2018 · Labelling in different languages

Meeting with Joshua Salsby (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc), Joshua Salsby (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

5 Nov 2015 · Aviation