Duty Free Americas has become the eighth major travel retailer to add its name to the Duty Free World Council (DFWC) and Tax Free World Association (TFWA) anti-illicit trade declaration.

As reported, DFWC and TFWA launched the declaration in July 2023. Signatories commit to taking a zero-tolerance stance to illicit trade within their own operations. 

Duty Free Americas has a 200-strong store footprint spanning airports and border crossings across the Americas region. DFWC and TFWA said that the retailer’s decision to join the pact marked a “major extension” of the industry’s public commitment to tackling illicit trade, counterfeiting and intellectual property theft.

Other signatories include ARI, DFS Group, Dubai Duty Free, Dufry, Duty Free Americas, Gebr. Heinemann, Lagardère Travel Retail and Qatar Duty Free.

The launch of the declaration followed the successful 2022 roll-out of the ‘Duty Free: Trusted, Transparent, Secure’ campaign by TFWA and DFWC.

Duty Free Americas signature on an ‘important initiative’ 

“The DFWC / TFWA anti-illicit trade declaration continues to grow in strength, and I am very pleased to welcome Duty Free Americas as the most recent signatory to this important initiative,” said DFWC President, Sarah Branquinho.

“Our industry boasts one of the most transparent, trusted, and secure supply chains in the world, and this campaign sends a clear message to our millions of customers around the world that they can shop in duty- and tax-free stores around confident that the products they are purchasing are authentic and genuine.

“Signatories to this declaration are making a firm public commitment to never permit any form of illicit trade, counterfeiting or intellectual property theft, and to hold their commercial partners to that same standard. 

“We welcome the support of any travel retail operator or supplier who wishes to be a part of the declaration, and we continue to encourage members of our industry to join us.”

Other recent focuses from the DFWC include communication around STEBs bags, and the launch of Duty Free World Council Academy courses in Mandarin.