With the sponsorship of EUROCUSTOMS, a WCO National Workshop on the modernization of the Customs Laboratories in Azerbaijan was held, from 12 to 14 June, in the premises of the WCO Regional Training Center of Baku (Azerbaijan).  The Workshop was facilitated by a Senior Technical Officer from the WCO´s Tariff and Trade Affaires Directorate and by Mr. Alessandro Proposito from the Central Directorate for Chemical Laboratories of Rome (Italy).

This Workshop was attended by 20 officers, from different sections of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, involved in Customs Laboratories and HS classification matters.

At the opening of the Workshop, Ms. Mehriban Alizadeh, Head of Central Department of Customs Expertise of the State Customs Committee, highlighted the importance of a Customs Laboratory for the correct classification of certain commodities in the National Tariff and thanked the WCO and the representatives from the Italian Customs Administration for facilitating the high level discussions on the modernization of the Customs Laboratories of Azerbaijan.

Mr. Alessandro Proposito, emphasized the importance of the role played by Customs Laboratories in the National Customs Administrations not only for the efficient collection of Customs duties but also for the protection of the society and the environment.

During the Workshop a wide range of topics related to the HS and Customs Laboratories were addressed and the participants were informed about several databases and documentation specifically designed for the day to day routine in a Classification Unit.  The structure of the Italian Customs Laboratories was described in detail as a representative example of modern Customs Laboratories.  Participants were also informed about the efforts of the WCO Secretariat in promoting cooperation and networking between Customs Laboratories and, in particular, about the WCO Regional Customs Laboratories initiative.  Moreover, some analytical determinations of special interest for Azerbaijan Customs (e.g., polymers, metals, medicines, analysis by infrared and gas chromatography) were discussed by participants and facilitators.