European Commission agrees to end duty and tax-free sales

Ferry operators and airports are to fight the proposed abolition of duty and tax-free sales in the European Union. The European Commission yesterday accepted a report which recommended that duty free sales within the EU should be scrapped as planned in 1999. Some pounds 4.2bn is generated business by duty and tax-free shopping within the union.

Members of the International Duty Free Confederation, which represents more than 500 companies in the industry, including major ferry operators and airports, have said they will oppose any moves to scrap the set-up.