WCO Sub-regional Train-the-trainer Workshop on Programme Global Shield in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

28 febrero 2019

The World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia/Pacific Security Project (APSP) conducted its third WCO Sub-Regional Train-the-Trainer Workshop on Programme Global Shield (PGS) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 12 to 22 February 2019. 16 participants from seven countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam) attended the event, which was funded by the Government of Japan and co-hosted by the WCO and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD).

WCO delivers CITES and Cultural Heritage trainings in Cuba within the framework of the WCO-UNODC Container Control Programme

28 febrero 2019

In the framework of the WCO-UNODC Container Control Programme (CCP), the WCO held two specialized training courses on CITES and PITCH (Preventing Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage) for the Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) at José Martí International Airport in Havana and Port Control Unit (PCU) in Mariel seaport.

CEN Training at RILO WE Office for NCP from Malta Customs

28 febrero 2019

In February 2019, RILO WE (Western Europe) welcomed their National Contact Point (NCP) Mario Briffa from Malta Customs for a two-day CEN training in the office in Cologne/Germany.

Steering Committee of the WCO ESA Project II meets in Botswana

27 febrero 2019

The Steering Committee overlooking the WCO - ESA Project II held its first meeting of the year from 19 to 21 February 2019, in Kasane, Botswana, under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chair of the ESA Region, Mr. Dicksons Kateshumbwa, Commissioner of Customs, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and in the presence of WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Treviño Chapa, to monitor the progress achieved in the project’s implementation and to develop the action plan for the first half of 2019.

Mis-declared Lithium Batteries

27 febrero 2019

Given their uses in a wide variety of consumer goods ranging from mobile phones to toys to cars, the transportation of lithium batteries by air - be it cargo or passenger baggage – has been increasing.

The Administrative Committee for the Container Convention holds its 17th Session

27 febrero 2019

The 17th Session of the Administrative Committee for the Customs Convention on Containers, 1972 was held on 25-26 February 2019 at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels.

Latest edition of WCO News now available

26 febrero 2019

The WCO has published the 88th edition of WCO News, the Organization’s flagship magazine aimed at the Customs community, which provides a selection of informative articles that touch the international Customs and trade landscape.

Oman Customs Project “Bayan” Won the Award of the Best Integrated Government Project

26 febrero 2019

The Royal Oman Police, represented by the Directorate General of Customs, recently won the Sultan Qaboos Award of the best integrated government project for proficiency in e-government services for its Bayan project which is a mini electronic government programme consisting of three main systems.

26 febrero 2019

The World Customs Organization (WCO), within the framework of the agreement between the WCO and Bahamas Customs and Excise Department (BCED) and funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), organized a National Workshop on the development of an advance ruling system for classification, origin and valuation.

Working Group on E-Commerce concludes its work with the finalization of a comprehensive E-Commerce Package

26 febrero 2019

The WCO Working Group on E-Commerce (WGEC) held its fifth and final Meeting from 18 to 22 February 2019 that brought together over 175 delegates from Customs administrations, other government agencies, the private sector, other international organizations, e-vendors/platforms/marketplaces, express carriers, postal operators, freight forwarders, Customs brokers and academia.

Malta Customs maximizes opportunities for small island economies

25 febrero 2019

Malta Customs maximizes opportunities for small island economies

WCO supported the Saudi Customs Modernization programme with an IT Diagnostic and a WCO Data Model workshop

25 febrero 2019

The WCO conducted an IT diagnostic mission and WCO Data Model Workshop from 3 – 7 February 2019 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

New Strategic Plan for Antigua & Barbuda

25 febrero 2019

After becoming the most recent Caribbean WCO Member, Antigua & Barbuda is also one of the most active.

WCO Workshop on Risk and Compliance Management in support of Thai Customs

25 febrero 2019

The WCO conducted a Risk Management Workshop for the benefit of the Thai Customs Department in Bangkok, Thailand from 21 to 25 January 2019.

Oman host a WCO Regional Workshop on Customs Laboratories for the MENA Region

21 febrero 2019

Under the sponsorship of CCF China, the WCO organised a Regional Workshop on Customs laboratories for the benefit of MENA region members.

Regional Workshop on Air Cargo Security and Facilitation – an opportunity for enhanced collaboration between Customs and Aviation Authorities working on the ground

21 febrero 2019

From 11 to 15 February 2019, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) held a third joint Workshop on Air Cargo Security and Facilitation.

UN appreciates WCO contribution to SDGs, Security, and Protection of Cultural Heritage

20 febrero 2019

WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya visited the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on 18 February and 19 February 2019 to explain WCO’s contributions and to deepen the engagement with various UN agencies.

WCO conducts a Post Clearance Audit (PCA) diagnostic for the National Board of Revenue of Bangladesh

20 febrero 2019

Following the recommendations of the 2016 Mercator Programme Diagnostic Report for Bangladesh, the WCO delivered a PCA diagnostic for the National Board of Revenue in Dhaka 4-7 February 2019.

WCO supports Azerbaijan Customs in adopting a blended training approach through the use of WCO e-Learning modules

20 febrero 2019

The WCO delivered an e-learning mission in Baku, Azerbaijan from 31 January to 5 February 2019, for the benefit of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SCC).

Munich Security Conference considers illicit trade by transnational organized crime syndicates as a border security issue

18 febrero 2019

WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya attended the Munich Security Conference held on 16 February 2019 in Munich, Germany, to share Customs’ efforts in addressing the challenges posed by the illicit movements of goods and currency from a border security perspective.

Developing Regional ECP Trainers for WCO ESA Region

18 febrero 2019

The 3rd Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop on the WCO Economic Competitiveness Package (ECP) was held at the Regional Training Centre (RTC) in Mombasa, Kenya from 5 to 13 February 2019, under the WCO-ESA Project II.

New Program to Support WCA Regional Strategy on “Experts Pool” Launched in Cote d’Ivoire

18 febrero 2019

On 11 February 2019, new collective efforts among six Customs administrations in West Africa to create an “experts pool” on Intelligence Analysis were launched in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, with the objective of further enhancing Customs control, trade facilitation and revenue collection in West Africa through intelligence-driven risk management.

WCO Audit Committee holds its 13th Meeting

13 febrero 2019

On 11 and12 February 2019, the 13th Audit Committee meeting took place at WCO Headquarters under the Chairmanship of Mr. Bjørn Røse, Norway Customs. The meeting was attended by 10 of the 12 Audit Committee Members, and by the Chairperson of the Finance Committee as observer. The Secretariat was represented by Mr. Ricardo Treviño Chapa, Deputy Secretary General.

The Bahamas Customs & Excise Department Revitalize Strategic Direction

13 febrero 2019

The World Customs Organization (WCO) and Bahamas Customs and Excise Department (BCED) signed a multi-year agreement in December 2017.

Bosnia and Herzegovina moves forward with the AEO implementation

13 febrero 2019

At the request of the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the WCO, with the support from Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF) Eurocustoms, organized a National Workshop on ‘AEO implementation - criteria, requirements, validation process, and action plan’.

First WCO Global Accreditation Workshop on Human Resource Management

12 febrero 2019

The first WCO Global Accreditation Workshop on Human Resource Management (HRM) was conducted from 4th to 8th February 2019 in Brussels, with the sponsorship of the Customs Cooperation Fund of China (CCF-China).

Third WGRKC Meeting paved a solid ground for further discussions of Members’ proposals

12 febrero 2019

The Third Meeting of the WCO Working Group on the Comprehensive Review of the Revised Kyoto Convention (WGRKC) took place in Brussels from 6 to 8 February 2019, going on with substantial discussions on approximately 70 concept-based proposals from WCO Members (Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Cuba, EU, Haiti, Japan, Morocco, Myanmar, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay) regarding the comprehensive review of the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC). The Meeting paved a solid ground for further discussions.

WCO Conducts Successful Scoping Mission to El Salvador, Under the Mercator Programme

12 febrero 2019

During the week of January 28 to February 1, the WCO facilitated a diagnostic mission of Customs and other border agencies of El Salvador, including a detailed assessment of its implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA), under the framework of WCO Mercator Programme.

WCO successfully pilots a recently launched ‘Advanced Post Clearance Audit’ workshop package in Malawi

12 febrero 2019

Under the framework of the Mercator Programme, the WCO has developed an advanced Post Clearance Audit (PCA) workshop package to enhance the audit capacities of Members according to WCO guidelines.

WCO supports Pakistan with enhancing ICT implementation and AEO Programme

11 febrero 2019

The World Customs Organization (WCO) with the support of the Customs Cooperation Fund of China (CCF China) conducted a 4-day ‘National Workshop on ICT and AEO Programme’ from 29 January to 1 February 2019 in Karachi, Pakistan.

Enhancing role of National Contact Points for Capacity Building in WCO Europe Region

08 febrero 2019

The second meeting of National Contact Points (NCPs) for Capacity Building in the WCO Europe Region was held from 28 to 30 January 2019 at the WCO Europe Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB), in Baku, Azerbaijan.

WCO mission to Zimbabwe to support implementation of an advance ruling system

07 febrero 2019

A WCO Revenue Package national Workshop on the development of an Advance Ruling System for Classification, funded by the Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF) Finland, under the WCO-Finland ESA project II, was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 28 January to 1 February 2019.

WCO support Burundi to finalize its national TRS project

07 febrero 2019

Under the auspices of the Finish Government to support Burundi Customs Administration to conduct a Time Release Study (TRS), the WCO participated in TRS Work Session mission which took place in Bujumbura, Burundi, from 28 January to 1 February 2019.

The WCO organized a National IPR Workshop for Ghanaian Customs in Accra, 28 January - 1 February 2019

06 febrero 2019

The overall goal of the SGIP II is to contribute to Ghana’s socio-economic development through promoting the use and protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). The aim of the Workshop is to improve protection and enforcement of IPRs and safeguarding consumers from substandard goods.

WCO MENA Regional Workshop on Free Zones/Special Customs Zones, Tangiers, Morocco

05 febrero 2019

From 28 to 30 January 2019, the WCO, with the financial support of the Japan Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF Japan) and in cooperation with Morocco Customs, held a WCO Regional Workshop on Free Zones/Special Customs Zones (SCZs).

East African Customs Gets Together Again to Enhance Border Control through PGS

04 febrero 2019

Under the auspices of the WCO/JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Joint Project to support trade facilitation and border control in Africa, a Sub-regional Training-of-Trainer Workshop on Programme Global Shield (PGS) in East Africa was held in Kampala, Uganda, from 22-30 January 2019.