19th Nov. 2024, Xiamen, China

The Operation DEMETER Debriefing and Interim Evaluation Meeting, organized by the WCO in cooperation with China Customs, was hosted in Xiamen from 19th - 21st November 2024. This event saw the attendance of the WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Treviño Chapa, Vice Minister of China Customs Wang Lingjun, officials from the European Anti-Fraud Office and the BRS Secretariat, and representatives from partner international organizations. At the invitation of the WCO Secretariat, Ms. Zhengqing YE, the representatives of the ROCB A/P, participated in this event. 

The WCO Operation DEMETER which was first launched in 2009, has demonstrated Customs’ commitment to protecting the health of both people and the planet, by enforcing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) which regulate cross-border movements of environmentally sensitive commodities. With the participation of a record number of 110 Customs administrations, the Operation Demeter X targeting illicit trafficking of waste, ozone depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) was successfully conducted from 15th July to 15th September this year. In the course of Operation DEMETER X, 450 seizures related to the targeted commodities were reported by 47 Customs administrations via CENcomm, the WCO’s secure and encrypted communication tool.

Taking the opportunity of this event, our office had a chance to exchange ideas with the WCO Secretariat and participating members regarding the specific capacity building needs of Green Customs Initiative (GCI). The ROCB A/P will continue making more efforts to promote GCI in Asia Pacific region and supporting members in preventing the illegal trade in environmentally-sensitive commodities and substances.

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