Aims and Objectives

The overall aim of the UKTRF is to secure the most favourable operating environment for companies trading in the international travel retail market. Within that overall aim, it has four principal objectives:

• To promote and develop the market for international (non-EU) duty and tax-free sales.
• To secure improved arrangements for the supply and sale of duty and tax paid goods to travellers within the European Union.
• To guard against increased compliance costs arising from new legislation.
• To keep Members fully informed of legislative and regulatory developments.

Membership

The UKTRF's Members represent most sectors of the travel retail business. They currently include airlines, airports, shop operators, passenger shipping, agents and distributors and the manufacturers and suppliers of alcohol, tobacco, fragrances and confectionery products, representing a huge range of major brands. Membership is open to any company involved in the travel retail business; the current list of Members is available to view here.

Activities

The UKTRF's principal activity is the representation of Members' interests to HM Revenue & Customs, the UK Government and the EU Commission; in particular UKTRF maintains a very close working relationship with HMRC. All legislative and regulatory provisions likely to affect travel retail are monitored and a UKTRF view communicated to Ministers and officials as necessary. Where appropriate, the UKTRF also provides a means for Members to collectively lobby politicians and other opinion formers and decision makers; the outcome of such discussions are regularly communicated to the Membership as a whole.

Organisation and Structure

The Forum's governing body is the Board of Directors; these are unpaid and are appointed to represent each of the main sectors, such as airports, airlines, shop operators, alcohol suppliers, etc.

All Members of the Forum are eligible - and encouraged - to attend the Annual General Meeting, held in early summer each year, to approve the accounts, the current year's budget, and the election of the Chairman and Directors. However, to ensure that they are kept fully informed throughout the year, copies of Board minutes and other relevant papers are regularly circulated to all Members. In addition, the UKTRF organises other functions for its Members, both for the discussion of current issues and to provide an opportunity for networking.

Funding

The UKTRF is funded entirely by contributions from Members. There is no set Membership fee - contributions are determined by mutual agreement according to a company's relative size within their sector. The UKTRF is a company limited by guarantee, which means that in the event of winding up, the maximum liability of contributing Members is just £5.

International Links

The UKTRF is an active Member of, and major contributor to, the European Travel Retail Council (ETRC), based in Paris. The ETRC's Members include the national travel retail associations from most of the EU Member States, plus some currently outside the EU, as well as the Tax Free World Association. The work of the ETRC is fundamental since new legislative arrangements specifically for travel retail can only be achieved at EU level. The Chairman of the UKTRF is a Director of the ETRC and the Secretary General is also the Company Secretary of ETRC.