The Central and Eastern European Travel Retail Association (CEETRA) today presented more important product safety and quality initiatives.

 

Following a workshop organised by the association at Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague the association says this pro-active industry-led move reaffirms its members’ Commitment to Product Safety and Quality both in alcohol retailing and other products.

 

CEETRA Chairman Alan Bork stated “our Commitment aims to reassure consumers and raise awareness with policy makers that duty free and travel retail is a secure and highly regarded retail channel”. He added that ‘consumer confidence is paramount for the running of our industry. It must be protected – and promoted.’

 

The Czech Consumers’ Association is also lending its support to the industry’s voice with its Chairman Libor Dupal delivering a speech dedicated to achieving consumer safety in travel retail, where he stressed the importance of strong industry self-regulation tools that are effectively communicated to consumers.

 

CEETRA says it decided to launch the initiative in the Czech Republic as a direct response to recent concerns about product safety connected to illicit trade of alcohol. In 2012 almost 40 consumers died and dozens fell ill, when illicit alcohol became available in the domestic market. The Government responded by banning all sales of alcohol above 20% proof.

 

INFORMATION CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED

As a result, the workshop gathered prominent representatives of the travel retail and duty free industry in Central and Eastern Europe to discuss the impact of the illicit alcohol scandal on consumer confidence and the duty free and travel retail business. Participants agreed that authorities in the region should be made aware of the high security and health safety standards in place within airport retail and they equally stressed that the duty free and travel retail industry does not engage in illicit trade.

 

In its Commitment to Safety and Quality, CEETRA acknowledges three principles of the duty free and travel retail industry: 1) The highest standard and health safety of our goods; 2) Shared commitment to quality of goods; and 3) Guarantee of the integrity of our supply chain. CEETRA will call for all its members to affirm these commitments to quality and excellence and will also reach out to political audiences to explain the responsible approach being taken by the DF/TR industry.

 

Summarising CEETRA’s initiative, Alan Bork said “whenever a consumer comes to a duty free and travel retail shop, we will take pride in providing them with high quality goods that are both safe and reliable.”

 

Any readers requiring more information can contact Alan Bork, CEETRA Chairman at the following: Tel: +36 1 296 5567 (Mobile) +36 30 952 6753 email: [email protected]