Since December 2020, the World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretariat has been organizing a series of national workshops comprising online training modules as part of its Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Health and Safety Programme.

Against this backdrop, a three-day virtual training session took place from 13 to 15 September 2021 and brought together over 60 officers from the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).

This workshop, funded by the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan (CCF/Japan), was aimed at informing participants about effective enforcement strategies to prevent counterfeit products from flooding their national market. Given the current context of the pandemic, special emphasis was placed on illegal trafficking of medicines and medical supplies related to COVID-19.

Representatives of two right holders joined the training session for one day. They explained how to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products and also shared some important information on their products’ legal supply chains and on certain specific security features.

Participants had time for group discussions, during which they made recommendations to IRICA on how IPR could be better enforced. These recommendations were based on what they had learned during the workshop and on the knowledge acquired on international standards, such as the Trade-Related Aspects of the Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement of the World Trade Organization.

Finally, participants were encouraged to build networks and relationships with other competent national authorities, the right holder community and among themselves in order to stay informed about the latest trends in IPR infringements. The workshop participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity afforded them not only to enhance their understanding of this crucial topic, but also to share their views and experiences.