Imagine a cargo ship slowly entering a Mozambican port, its containers potentially concealing hazardous waste or ozone-depleting substances that pose significant environmental risks. The challenge lies in maintaining trade efficiency while intercepting these hidden dangers—a priority for the World Customs Organization (WCO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ozone Action, and the Basel Convention Secretariat.
From April 17-19 in Maputo, these organizations conducted an awareness workshop for officials from Mozambique's Tax Authority (AT Mozambique) and Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA). Funded by the Swedish government through the Trade Facilitation and Customs Modernization Sustainability Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (Sida-WCO TFCM Programme), the initiative highlighted customs' critical role in climate action and global environmental sustainability.
Program Background and Objectives
The Sida-WCO TFCM Programme provides technical assistance to customs administrations in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC) regions. It addresses trade-related environmental impacts while supporting implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The Mozambique workshop specifically aimed to enhance understanding of the Basel Convention on hazardous waste and the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances, while strengthening interagency border control cooperation.
Workshop Content and Key Focus Areas
Over three days, experts from WCO, UNEP, and the Basel Convention Secretariat delivered interactive sessions on:
- Legal frameworks: Detailed analysis of both conventions' provisions, controlled substances, and recent amendments
- Identification techniques: Methods for detecting hazardous waste and ozone-depleting materials, including rapid screening and laboratory analysis
- Customs' enforcement role: Border controls, risk assessment, intelligence gathering, and international collaboration through case studies
- Interagency coordination: Models for effective cooperation between customs, environmental agencies, and other stakeholders
- Information sharing: Platforms and mechanisms for international intelligence exchange on environmental crimes
Outcomes and Impact
The workshop engaged 28 officials from Mozambique's tax and environmental agencies, achieving:
- Enhanced understanding of multilateral environmental agreements
- Stronger interdepartmental cooperation commitments
- Clarified customs responsibilities in environmental enforcement
- Expanded networks for international collaboration
Future Recommendations
To sustain progress, participants suggested:
- Ongoing capacity-building programs for Mozambican authorities
- Strengthening domestic environmental legislation
- Deepening international partnerships against cross-border environmental crime
- Public awareness campaigns about environmental protection
This initiative demonstrates how international cooperation can strengthen environmental governance in developing nations. The workshop's success provides a replicable model for enhancing global environmental security through customs enforcement.