In a highly significant and positive development, the Singapore Government is to grant duty free status to liquor and tobacco products at next week's TFWA Asia Pacific duty free show following a special request for

the same from TFWA on behalf of exhibitors.
TFWA began discussions with Singapore Customs last year, but given the sensitive nature of the matter, it says it restricted its request for this concession to 2008. But as TFWA said, 'in typical pro-business fashion' the Singapore Government decided to grant the approval commencing this year.
Historically liquor and tobacco products being exhibited at the Asia show have been treated as permanent imports by customs with all duties and GST paid at the point of importation. But under this new special dispensation these items will fall under a new ?temporary import status?, with duties and GST temporarily suspended on arrival in Singapore or at the extraction stage from a local licensed warehouse.
At the end of next week's exhibition, duties and GST will be collected based on the quantity consumed or given away at the event. Any unused quantity that is re-exported out of Singapore by exhibitors, or returned to the licensed warehouse will be treated as duty/tax-exempt.
This is a real step forward by TFWA and a welcome compromise by Singapore Customs.