The InterTabac and InterSupply trade fairs planned for 18 to 20 September 2020 will not be held in their customary formats this year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the organisers said.

The decision was taken by agreement between the organiser, Messe Dortmund GmbH, and the partner associations representing the tobacco industry, tobacco product wholesalers and retailers. The parties involved have agreed to work on an alternative format to take place in autumn/fall 2020 leveraging the strengths of the world's largest trade fair for tobacco products and smoking accessories and of the concurrent international trade fair focussing on the manufacturing process for tobacco products, e-cigarettes, pipes and shishas
The key driver behind the decision has been the ongoing situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated potential health impact on exhibitors and visitors. Global travel restrictions, which are having sustained consequences on the planning and staging of international trade fairs such as InterTabac and InterSupply, have also been a contributory factor. “Even though there have been signs of relaxation in Germany in recent weeks regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and local authorities have again made it possible to hold trade fairs with limited attendance while observing appropriate hygiene measures, we as organisers continue to pay particular attention to our responsibility to protect the health of everyone involved”, explained Sabine Loos, Managing Director of Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe GmbH, the parent company of organiser Messe Dortmund GmbH. “As a result, working closely with our partner associations, we have decided to jointly develop a new concept for this autumn, and to present it in detail shortly.”