The 3rd Customs Laboratory Programme commenced on 5 October 2015 at WCO Headquarters in Brussels, under the sponsorship of Japan (CCF/Japan). Six experienced Customs chemists from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Fiji, Ghana and Serbia are taking part in the Programme.
This Programme was launched in 2013 by the WCO in cooperation with Japan to support the establishment and modernization of Customs laboratories, given that Customs laboratories are instrumental in ensuring proper tariff classification, determining origin, protecting consumers from imports of potentially harmful and dangerous merchandise, preventing unlawful practices in international trade, and underpinning fair and efficient revenue collection.
Following the one-week Workshop at the WCO, during which the participants will study WCO HS tools intended for Customs chemists, including the WCO Customs Laboratory Guide, the participants will travel to Japan for practical training for seven weeks. The WCO Regional Customs Laboratory in Japan will provide a course on chemical analysis methods that will focus on new technologies and techniques, as well as the use of sophisticated analytical equipment. The focus of this comprehensive Programme is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs Laboratories in the participants’ administrations.
The Central Customs Laboratory of Japan is a "WCO Regional Customs Laboratory" by virtue of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the WCO and Japan Customs during the June 2014 WCO Council Sessions, and one of its functions is conducting capacity building activities on Customs laboratory matters in the WCO Asia-Pacific Region.