India to host International workshop on 'Green Customs Initiatives'

New Delhi, May 25 (ANI): India will host a five-day international workshop starting from today on 'Green Customs Initiatives' to bring awareness about environment protection and the role of customs officers in enforcing environmental laws on the borders.

The National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN), the training arm of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), will host the event under the aegis of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) at NACEN in Faridabad.

Protection of the environment is a primary concern of the international community today to ensure that the earth does not become the victim of environmental degradation with its catastrophic consequences for life on earth. The role of Customs Departments of the International Community is important specially in view of the fact that national and international Crime Syndicates are indulging in environmental crimes for pecuniary gains.

The Workshop is aimed at bringing about awareness of the importance of environment protection and the role of Customs Officers in this task in the Asia Pacific, Central Asia and Australasia Regions.

The participants of the Workshop are expected to go back to their respective countries duly enriched on this aspect and take forward the "Green Customs Initiatives" which has been launched by the Secretariats of the Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) such as, Basel Convention, Rotterdam Convention, Stockholm Convention, Montreal Protocol, Chemical Weapons Convention etc. in cooperation with UNEP and the WCO.

The Workshop will be attended by participants from 21 countries of the Central Asia, Asia Pacific and Australasia Regions and Experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the Secretariats of the Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) (to which India is a party). (ANI)