EU law hits Indian duty-free shops

New Delhi: Business at India’s duty-free outlets, one of the cheapest in the world, has been hit as more than a dozen airlines are not allowing passengers to carry items like liquor and perfume in their hand baggage. This follows a decision by the European Union (EU), the US and Canada to bar transit passengers from carrying these items at their airports.
The situation has reached such a pass that the EU has said that the bar on liquid items — including gels — in hand baggage can be lifted only if each airport in a country obtains a certification from the European authorities.
Each airports needs to apply for clearance which would be provided only after a EU security team inspects the security systems at that airport, airport sources said. The Indian duty-free industry was hoping that the EU bar would be lifted soon but the situation seems to be getting more complicated.
In the light of the recent security scares at UK airports, there seems to be no sign of the regulations getting liberalised.
07/07/07 Economic Times

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Categories: Airports Jul 2007