The WCO, in cooperation with Mongolian Customs, and supported by the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan, organized a Risk-based Passenger Selectivity Workshop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 5 to 9 September 2016. The workshop was attended by 29 Customs officers from both Headquarters and field-level offices.

Mr. Bat-Erdene Yondon, Deputy Director of the Law Enforcement and Trade Facilitation Department attended the opening together with the WCO representative. In their opening remarks, Mr. Yondon and the WCO representative highlighted the importance of a risk-based approach while selecting the passengers, cargo and conveyances to be directed to physical examination. They also emphasized the relationships between risk-based selectivity and effective resource allocation, trade facilitation and targeted controls.

Main elements of risk management at the organizational level including principles, framework and process were covered during the first day of the workshop; then the focus was placed on risk assessment, profiling and targeting, including information and intelligence. Risk-based passenger selectivity-related topics were outlined throughout the entire Workshop. Several group work activities and practical exercises assisted participants to link the theory with practice. They were also trained on behavioral analysis and questioning techniques in order to identify anomalies which would contribute to risk-based selectivity practices. Each session was followed by a lively "questions and answers" session.

During the workshop, participants actively engaged and discussed how to identify and address risks as well as how to develop an effective profile by using the methodology explained in the WCO Customs Risk Management Compendium. Case studies and practical exercises also contributed to their further understanding of the topic.