The Fifth WCO Global Canine Forum, hosted by the Australian Border Force in Melbourne, Australia and scheduled to take place over three days, opened its doors on 1 October 2019.  The Conference brought together over 100 participants from around 30 countries across five continents to share best practices for implementing and enhancing Canine Programmes.

The Honourable Jason Wood, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, and Member of the Australian Parliament, welcomed the Forum participants on behalf of the Australian Government and delivered a keynote speech, emphasizing the importance of supporting Customs with the necessary resources, such as dogs that are highly trained in protecting the community while facilitating trade flows.

In his opening speech, WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya underscored the usefulness of enhancing the global network of Customs officers working in Canine Programmes and described the WCO policy of assisting Members in sharing best practices on the most effective Customs technology for managing risks at borders. 

In his remarks, Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram gave details of the contributions made by dogs in a variety of areas of Customs operations, stressing the need for regional and global cooperation between Customs and other border agencies.

The participants appreciated the excellent organization of the Forum and the warm hospitality offered by the host administration, as well as the latter’s readiness to support other WCO Members in establishing and enhancing Canine Programmes in their respective countries.