2-4 July, 2024, Shanghai, China

The Pre-operational Workshop of Operation DEMETER X in the Asia and Pacific Region, funded by the Customs Cooperation Fund of China (CCF-China), was organized in Shanghai from July 2-4, 2024. At the invitation of the WCO Secretariat, Ms. Zhengqing YE, a representative of ROCB A/P, attended this workshop.

Operation DEMETER was first launched in 2009 with 64 Customs administrations. The upcoming Operation Demeter X targeting illegal cross-border shipments of hazardous and other waste (regulated under the Basel Convention), and of ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons (ODS & HFCs, controlled under the Montreal Protocol) will take place from 15 July to 15 September 2024 with the participation of a record number of 110 Customs administrations. The three-day Workshop enabled participants to gauge targeting capacities and improve capability to identify high-risk consignments. It also highlighted that for a successful operation, collaboration should not be limited only among Customs administrations, but also nationally with agencies in charge of implementing regulations on the movement of the targeted products.

During the Workshop, ROCB A/P was invited to introduce its efforts to promote the Green Customs Initiative (GCI) in Asia Pacific region. Ms. YE outlined the previous ROCB's active engagement in promoting the GCI including conducting Regional Workshop on Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) and CEN Applications, participating in the UNEP and WWF Workshops. She also emphasized the increasingly crucial roles of customs laboratories with specific focus on the identification of solid waste and CITES-listed species. She then underscored that setting up a regional pool of high-level experts in Green Customs is essential to promote the GCI.

Taking the opportunity of this event, ROCB A/P expressed a keen interest and commitment to engage in the WCO Operation DEMETER and further enhance the cooperative relationship with other organizations such as UNEP and UNODC. ROCB A/P will continuously support members in preventing the illegal trade in environmentally sensitive commodities and substances.

For more information, please contact at rocb@rocbap.org