(14-17 March 2016, Doha Qatar)

The WCO with the support from the Qatarese General Authority of Customs conducted a regional workshop on the ‘Pre-arrival Processing System and SAFE Framework of Standards’ for the North Africa and Middle East (MENA) region in Doha Qatar from 14 to 17 March 2016. 34 senior and middle-ranking officials from 11 countries of the region (Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Tunisia) participated in the workshop.

Based on the current regional and respective national situation in the participating Member administrations, the WCO presented detailed information on the need and benefits of pre-arrival processing together with a step-by-step implementation approach. Relevant provisions of various instruments and tools such as the Revised Kyoto Convention, the SAFE Framework of Standards (FoS), the Guidelines concerning Integrated Supply Chain Management, Application of Information and Communication Technology in the context of digital Customs and immediate release, and related provisions of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement were explained to participants. A number of related successful case studies and best practices were also shared with participants.

Additionally, detailed explanations relating to the implementation/consolidation of the SAFE AEO programme, including the implementation of Article 7.7 (Authorized Operator) of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in line with the SAFE AEO programme were provided.

The workshop was well received and appreciated by participants and Qatar Customs. It led to an enhanced understanding of WCO instruments and tools relating to the implementation of the pre-arrival processing system and the SAFE FoS. The workshop also enabled the participants to develop their respective national action plan and possible ways forward in these areas.