On 2 and 3 February 2022, in collaboration with high-level representatives of pharmaceutical companies, the World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully held a two-day Workshop for Rwanda Customs aimed at improving Customs’ awareness of the characteristics of COVID-19-related counterfeit goods.
Some 20 Customs officers participated in the event, with a view for capacity building to identify and stop trafficking both in genuine and counterfeit medicines and medical devices.
The second day of the Workshop was conducted in collaboration with three pharmaceutical companies. The latter gave a range of presentations on their new COVID-19 vaccines and treatments as well as on the distribution channels for these goods. Through these presentations, participants were able to gain access to the latest information on the specific characteristics of these companies’ COVID-19-related goods.
Many questions were asked by participants, who actively exchanged views with the WCO officials as well as with the representatives of Rwanda Customs and the pharmaceutical companies present.