Sravasti, 30 November 2009, Today representatives from customs and enforcement administrations as well as environment ministries of India and Nepal are participating in the first border dialogue of its kind to address the challenges of illegal trade in environmentally sensitive commodities across their common border.
Most environmental problems are transboundary in nature and can have a global impact. The illegal international trade in environmentally sensitive items such as ozone depleting substances (ODS), harmful chemicals, hazardous wastes, and endangered species is a substantial and increasingly lucrative business. It directly threatens human health, deteriorates the environment, contributes to species loss, results in revenue loss for governments and seriously undermines the effectiveness of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs).
During the three day workshop, representatives from India and Nepal will join hands in a border dialogue within the framework of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Green Customs Initiative facilitated by UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE)’s OzonAction Programme based in Paris, France. The dialogue will also benefit from participation of representatives of the Green Customs Initiative and relevant Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) which include trade-related provisions.
The Green Customs Initiative is an unprecedented partnership of international organizations, whose objective is to enhance the capacity of customs and other relevant enforcement personnel to monitor and facilitate the legal trade and to detect and prevent illegal trade in environmentally sensitive commodities covered by relevant conventions and MEAs. This is achieved through awareness raising on all the relevant international agreements as well as provision of assistance and tools to the enforcement community.
Based on the past history of CFC trade in the sub-region, there is an urgent need to strengthen the collaboration between these neighbouring countries to monitor ODS trade and curb illegal movement of such commodities.
Dr. Young-Woo Park, Regional Director and Representative for Asia and the Pacific, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, said “The Illegal trade in ODS has undermined countries’ efforts to comply with the Montreal Protocol to phase out Ozone Depleting Substances. Especially with the advent of the key milestone for phase out of CFCs in Article 5 (developing) countries, the illegal movement of ODS may increase due to the upcoming complete ban of use and trade of CFCs from January 1, 2010. These global environmental crimes call for urgent global coordinated responses.”
“By having this dialogue through the Green Customs framework, we could raise the awareness of border operation officers in combating illegal trade that may negatively affect the environment, and provide tools for operation and enforcement. We could also enhance border cooperation on control of the ODS trade and in the fight against illegal trade in a concerted manner between India and Nepal through establishing an action plan and strengthening the existing compliance system” said Mr. Anil Bhatnagar, Director of National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN).
Participants to this dialogue consist of wide range of stakeholders in preventing illegal trade. Dr. Sitaram Joshi, Director General, Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology, Nepal said “In order to enhance synergy in enforcing environmental agreements at the border, participants to this dialogue include the stakeholders from both countries such as customs officers, border agencies, border police, national ozone officers and business partners. We also have participation of experts from related MEAs, NACEN, the Indian para-military force (SSB), Green Customs’ Partner organisations and UNEP”.
For more information:
Atul Bagai
Regional Coordinator (Networking), South Asia Network
Compliance Assistance Programme
OzonAction Programme
UNEP Regional Office for Asia and Pacific
UN Building,
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue
Bangkok 10200
Mobile: + 66847002257
Tel: +6622881662
Fax: + 6622883041
Email: atul.bagai@unep.org
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and brining emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designated to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987 and entered into force on January 1, 1989. Since then, it has undergone five revisions, in 1990 (London), 1992 (Copenhagen), 1995 (Vienna), 1997 (Montreal), and 1999 (Beijing). The Montreal Protocol celebrated the UN’s International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer on 16 September 2009.
To add to the celebrations, Timor-Leste announced its ratification of the Protocol, making the Montreal Protocol the first environmental agreement to achieve universal participation by 196 parties. Due to its widespread adoption and implementation it has been hailed as an example of exceptional international cooperation, and one of the most successful international agreements.
The Green Customs Initiative
The Green Customs Initiative is a partnership of international organisations and secretariats that cooperate to enhance the capacity of customs and other relevant border enforcement personnel to deal with trade in environmentally-sensitive items. It offers an integrated approach for providing information, training and awareness-raising to facilitate legal trade in such commodities and prevent their illegal trade. The partnership comprises the secretariats of the relevant multilateral environmental agreements with trade related components (Basel, Cartagena, CITES, Montreal, Rotterdam and Stockholm) as well as Interpol, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, UNEP, The United Nations on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) the World Customs Organization. www.greencustoms.org
