The European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) re-elected its President and appointed a Head of Government and Industry Affairs at its annual general meeting on Thursday as key issues come to a head in the next six months.

 

World Duty Free Group’s Business Relations & External Affairs Director, Sarah Branquinho (left), remains President while Julie Lassaigne (below left), from consultancy Hume Brophy, becomes Head of Government and Industry Affairs to support Secretary General, Keith Spinks.

 

Branquinho’s managing board consists of: Frank O’Connell (Dublin Airport Authority); Jacques Parson (Kappé); Fulvio Fassone (Aeroporti di Roma); and Erik Juul-Mortensen (Tax Free World Association).

 

At the meeting, national duty free associations and corporate members heard from O’Connell (right) on the consequences for passengers, airports, retailers and brands of the implementation of the first phase of the new LAGs regime from 31 January 2014.

 

Detailed briefing meetings will be scheduled with ETRC’s retailer and supplier members in the coming months to assist them in understanding and preparing for the changes.

 

‘ONE BAG’ DECISIONS COMING…

The timetable and action plan for addressing the impact on passengers and on airport revenues of the ‘one bag’ rule which restricts passengers from carrying their airport shopping on board certain carriers was also shared. This is a key issue for ETRC in the next six months because a decision on the final content of the planned revision of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation is expected early in 2014.

 

Spinks reported on the new Confectionery Working Group’s progress in meeting the provisions of the regulation on food labelling (due to come into force in December 2014), in the cross-border channel. He also updated ETRC members on the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive, and on the ongoing reduction in inbound allowances in certain markets and moves towards plain packaging.

 

Juul-Mortensen reported on the significant progress made by retailers, brands and national associations to the Code of Conduct on responsible retailing of alcohol, which is part of ETRC’s commitment as a member of the European Alcohol and Health Forum, and urged companies and associations who had not yet signed up to do so.

 

GLOBAL COUNCIL SUPPORT

ETRC’s support for a global council was also confirmed – with further details to be announced before the year end.

 

Thanking members, Branquinho comments: “The number of issues on which ETRC represents the industry continues to grow and its success would simply not be possible without the valuable work done by the national associations at national level and with their MEPs, and the involvement of our corporate members on specific category and retail issues, and their joint financial support.”