FRANCE/UK. The European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) has welcomed the French government announcement that the sale of duty free products will be permitted at Eurotunnel’s Coquelles terminal in France. A duty paid store is currently operated there by Dufry company World Duty Free.
The ETRC has been proactively engaging on this issue in recent months. This announcement will align the rules applicable to the Channel Tunnel with those provided for in airports and seaports for journeys to a third country outside the European Union and ensure a level playing field, the Confederation noted.
The ETRC is now calling upon the French government to take a further step and to allow duty free sales from the Eurostar terminals which service the same cross-channel market as the Eurotunnel terminal.
[Explanatory note: Eurostar from the UK to France allows duty free sales as the government has deemed that international railway stations represent movement to a third country. However, Eurostar France in Paris cannot currently sell duty free to passengers bound for the UK, putting the operator at a disadvantage vs both its UK to France counterpart and, from now, Eurotunnel in France.]
ETRC President Nigel Keal stated: “ETRC is delighted that the French government have today finally clarified the situation and will allow duty free sales. We are particularly pleased that this decision has been taken as France starts to open up again and summer tourism and travel between the UK and France kicks off.
“We do however call upon the French authorities to take a further step and allow duty free sales at the Eurostar terminals in France for UK-bound passengers. By doing that, they will ensure a true level playing field between all UK-France transport operators. The UK have already decided to allow duty free sales in all UK Eurostar terminals.”
