South and West Asian Customs Authorities and National Ozone Officers Join Forces to Combat Illegal Trade

Chennai, India, 24 – 27 September 2024 – UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific and West Asia Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) teams organized the Customs Border Dialogues.   The Customs Border Dialogues, held from 26 – 27 September 2024, brought together National Ozone Officers and representatives of Customs Authorities across both regions. The goal of these dialogues was to strengthen regional collaboration, enhance border cooperation, and combat illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances and HFCs which contribute to climate change.  A total of 53 participants (36 Male/17 Female) attended the event. The Customs Border Dialogues included a site visit to Customs facilities in Chennai, India to gain firsthand insights into the challenges and best practices in enforcement. Participants discussed the implications of the Kigali Amendment for Customs Officers, reviewed existing legislations and regulations governing cross-border trade, and explored national efforts to train Customs Officers on ODS/HFC control. "The officials of Bangladesh NOU and Customs Department gained very useful experiences through the Joint Network Meeting and Border Dialogue by exchanging ideas, knowledge, and practices of participating countries of South Asia and West Asia. Sharing success stories on how to build cordial and effective relationships between NOU and Customs Authority, and how to deal with illegal trading in terms of detection and investigation were also found very useful. The Bangladesh delegation received a wealth of information provided by the CAP of UNEP, MLF and Ozone Secretariat, other bilateral and multilateral entities, World Customs Organization and associated institutions, which would certainly help implement the relevant activities at national level and comply with the Montreal Protocol more effectively,"  said Mr. Ziaul Haque, Director, Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of Bangladesh. Risk profiling practices and current illegal trade risks were also on the agenda. Participants discussed strategies for identifying and addressing potential threats to the environment and public health. Additionally, the meeting explored mechanisms for information exchange and joint operations to combat ODS/HFC smuggling.   To support enforcement efforts, participants discussed available materials and tools. By sharing information and resources, the meeting aimed to equip Customs Officers with the necessary tools to effectively enforce regulations and prevent illegal trade.   "We extend our sincere gratitude to UNEP OzonAction CAP for organizing the Customs Border Dialogues in Chennai. This event has been instrumental in strengthening regional cooperation, combating illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances and HFCs, and taking a proactive approach to protecting the environment and safeguarding our planet," said Mr. Mazen Yasser, Syria Customs representative The Customs Border Dialogues were a crucial step in strengthening cooperation between National Ozone Officers and Customs Authorities. By working together, these authorities can play a vital role in protecting the stratospheric Ozone Layer and combating climate change. The meetings in Chennai demonstrated a united front and a commitment to a sustainable future.   UNEP CAP teams expressed its sincere gratitude to the Government of India for their generous hospitality in hosting the meeting. Resource partners who went above and beyond were the Ozone Secretariat, World Customs Organization (WCO), Chief Commissioner of Customs, Chennai, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and guest speakers and technical experts. Their active participation, thoughtful contributions, and collaborative spirit created a truly special environment for sharing insights and knowledge to help the countries foster collaboration and resource sharing and effectively implement the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment.   The dialogue organized by UNEP OzonAction CAP, Asia and the Pacific Office and West Asia Office, in partnership with the Government of India as part of its approved 2024 Work Programme under the Multilateral Fund. For more information: Ms. Elisa Rim Montreal Protocol Regional   Coordinator a.i., South Asia UNEP, CAP, Asia and Pacific Office   Email: elisa.rim@un.org Mr. Khaled Klaly   Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator, West Asia UNEP CAP, West Asia Office Email: khaled.klaly@un.org