European Travel Retail Confederation
Budget
€100 — €0
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
3
1.25 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
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. • ETRC serves to facilitate contact between members by organising seminars, conferences and meetings • ETRC provides tailored support programmes to members to promote the highest operating standards and responsible retailing in international travel • ETRC undertakes detailed research into relevant industry issues and provides actionable data relevant to members • ETRC communicates regularly with its members to spread awareness about the industry and the importance of duty free and travel retail for airports, airlines, ferries, cruise lines, retailers and brand owners • ETRC works with members to identify challenges where advocacy is required in order to safeguard the channel
EU Legislative Interests
ETRC has been representing its members interests on all EU policy areas related to the operation of duty free and travel retail outlets in the EU and Europe for many years, including on aviation and maritime policy, customs and taxation including excise and travellers allowances, security, health and safety, consumer affairs, sustainability, internal market and economic affairs. ETRC is promoting greater awareness of the uniqueness of the duty free and travel retail industry and the need to recognize it at European level. ETRC also seeks to ensure that future legislation does not hinder or damage the industry but promotes growth and innovation ultimately for the benefit for all travellers within the EU. In order to promote a level-playing field with non-EU countries, ETRC is proposing to allow Arrivals Duty Free shops in the EU for travellers arriving from third countries to ensure the vitality of the channel and EU airports in the long term. To ensure reciprocity and a level-playing field with the UK, duty and tax free sales should also be allowed for passengers travelling by train outside of the EU. ETRC has engaged with the EU Commission services on the EU Tourism Strategy in that regard. ETRC has also been representing its members interests with regards to the growing demand for the provision of information to consumers that impacts several product categories sold in duty-free and travel retail; food, alcohol, and cosmetics. ETRC is pro-actively advocating for the recognition of the use of digital labelling and following a pilot project, has created a digital platform to provide information to consumers in duty free and travel retail, across three core categories: Food & confectionery; Alcohol beverages; and Perfumes & Cosmetics. In this context, ETRC monitors EU initiatives such as the EU Farm to Fork strategy and the wider scope of the EU Green Deal, the EU’s Beating Cancer Plan, and the EU Consumer Agenda. ETRC has also co-signed joint letters with other EU associations to promote digital labelling for product information in EU legislation. Another issue that has been the subject of intense activity with the European Institutions over the years has been associated with the problems encountered by the carriage of duty free liquids, etc. (LAGs) as a consequence of the upgraded aviation security rules adopted following the terrorist threat to trans-Atlantic aircraft in August 2006. ETRC continues to participate in the process of developing upgraded security systems that will simplify and facilitate passengers’ movement through airport security and ease the restrictions on the carriage of LAGs by travellers. ETRC also contributes to the discussions on enhancing maritime security. Taking into account the three pillars of sustainability policies; environmental, social and governance; ETRC is fully committed to supporting its members and the wider industry in their efforts towards a more sustainable Travel Retail industry. ETRC believes that through proactive and constructive engagement with policymakers, it is possible to identify practical solutions that meet policy requirements while supporting the Duty Free sector. ETRC, its member associations and companies are following closely the implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive, specifically related to implications for the duty free channel as the Member States adopt the new rules in national legislation.
Communication Activities
"ETRC EU Economic Impact of Duty Free Travel Retail Report", commissioned by ETRC from InterVistas, April 2025 https://etrc.org/document/etrc-eu-economic-impact-of-duty-free-travel-retail-report/ "ETRC Booklet “Duty Free & Travel Retail – A unique marketplace”, January 2025 https://etrc.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/ETRC-Booklet-2025.pdf "Implementing Duty Free Arrivals Shops: Country Case Studies", commissioned by ETRC from York Aviation, November 2022 http://etrc.org/uploaded/downloads/york-aviation-case-study-report-arrival-duty-free,-october-2022.pdf ''The Economic Impact of Arrivals Duty and Tax Free Shopping in the EU'', commissioned by ETRC from York Aviation, first published October 2020, updated February 2021 http://www.etrc.org/uploaded/downloads/economic-impact-of-arrivals-shops-final-april-2021.pdf
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
ETRC is a founding member of the Duty Free World Council (DFWC). Link: www.dfworldcouncil.com ETRC is an Affiliated member of Eurocommerce. Link: eurocommerce.eu ETRC supports the coordination of the Digital Consumer Information Alliance (DCIA), an informal network of trade associations supporting enhanced use of digital labelling in EU legislation.
Organisation Members
LIST OF MEMBERS (AS OF JANUARY 2026) https://etrc.org/members/ - National and regional trade associations Association Française du Travel Retail (AFTR) Associazione Travel Retail Italia (ATRI) Association of Duty Free Stores Operators and Suppliers Turkey (GSMIT) Benelux Travel Retail Association (BTRA) Central and East European Travel Retail Association (CEETRA) CTC-ARI Airports Ltd. (Cyprus) Deutscher Travel Retail Verband (DTRV) Federación Española del Travel Retail (FETRE) Hellenic Travel Trade Confederation (HTTC) Duty Free Portugal (Portugal) Nordic Travel Retail Group (NTRG) Tax Free World Association (TFWA) United Kingdom Travel Retail Forum (UKTRF) - Corporate members Shop operators and distributors: Aer Rianta International, Avolta (formerly Dufry Group), Harding Retail, Gebr. Heinemann, Lagardère Travel Retail, Overseas Distribution; Beauty and fragrances: Chanel SAS, Christian Dior Parfums, Coty Prestige, Interparfums, La Prairie Group, L'Oréal Travel Retail, Puig, Shiseido; Confectionery and food: Ferrero, Godiva Chocolates, Lindt & Sprüngli, Mondelez World Travel Retail LLC, Mars International Travel Retail, Nestlé International Travel Retail SA, Perfetti van Melle; Tobacco: BAT International, Imperial Tobacco Ltd., JTI International SA, PMI World Trade SA, Oettinger Davidoff AG; Wines and spirits: Bacardi Global Travel Retail Division, Suntory Global Travel Retail, Bottega s.p.a., Brown Forman, Campari, CVH Spirits, Diageo Plc, Duty Free Global, Edrington, Ian Macleod Distillers, Moët Hennessy Europe, Pernod Ricard Travel Retail Europe, Remy Cointreau International, William Grant & Sons.
Additional Information
ETRC is funded through subscriptions received from national and regional affiliated trade associations and through membership fees from individual companies (corporate membership) working in the duty free and travel retail trade across Europe and beyond.
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.