The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (UNSCR 1540) of 2004 calls on all States to adopt and enforce appropriate laws, and to take effective measures to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery to non-State actors. It is the first international instrument targeting the prevention of non-State actors from acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
The WCO's Strategic Trade Control Enforcement (STCE) programme supports its Members in fulfilling key requirements outlined in the Customs component of UNSCR 1540. Customs plays a central role in enforcing strategic trade controls at international borders. Nevertheless, assessing trade compliance becomes particularly challenging in the oversight of dual-use goods. To address this, the WCO has formulated the STCE training curriculum for Members seeking to enhance their capabilities. This curriculum includes comprehensive briefings for policymakers on strengthening and sustaining national STCE initiatives, along with practical training modules designed for operational staff. The curriculum encompasses a range of materials, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) substances, as well as associated dual-use materials and equipment.
The STCE Programme offers the following capacity-building activities for Members: high-level orientation workshops, aimed at raising awareness of the security function of Customs, and at determining the STCE maturity level of the Customs administration; national STCE trainings, focusing on enhancing the skills of the operational Customs officers in the area of identification of goods with strategic potential and overseeing the transportation of these shipments; and Train-the-Trainer (T3) events, aimed at developing the pool of accredited national experts who support the WCO in delivering trainings across the globe. The STCE Programme aims to conduct two T3 events each year, actively working to ensure gender balance in the accreditation process.