The World Customs Organization (WCO), with the support of experts from Spanish Customs and the United States Customs and Border Protection, has successfully completed an Integrity Diagnostic mission for the benefit of the Federal Revenue of Brazil (RFB). The mission was conducted under the framework of the Trade Facilitation in Middle Income Countries (TFMICs) Programme, supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Prosperity Fund.

To kick-off the deliberations, a high level executive meeting presided by Mr. José Barroso Tostes, RFB Secretary General and Mr. Ricardo Treviño Chapa, WCO Deputy Secretary General, took place on 2 November. The meeting gathered more than 80 RFB officers, which illustrates the importance that RFB renders to integrity as a cornerstone of successful and sustainable Customs and trade facilitation reform and modernization initiatives.  

Due to its digital nature, the mission allowed for engagement with a wide range of stakeholders –  Customs, other border agencies as well as the private sector.  During the closing session on 04 December, the key strategic outcomes of the diagnostic were welcomed by Mr. Decio Rui Pialarissi, RFB Deputy Secretary-General, who noted the potential to incorporate further references to enhanced integrity into the RFB Strategic Plan.

The WCO looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the RFB to further strengthen its Customs reform and modernization agenda under the auspice of TFMICs.

For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.