[wildtrade] World's Customs linked through ENVIRONET

[Chris Shepherd]

World's Customs linked through ENVIRONET

Monday, June 22, 2009 at 16:29
TRAFFIC in CITES, Conservation awareness, Enforcement 

 
<javascript:showFullImage('/display/ShowImage?imageUrl=%2Fstorage%2Fimages%2
FAustralian-Customs-Adam-OSWELL-WWF-Canon.jpg%3F__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION%3
D1245684645699',335,500);> An Australian Customs Officer inspects a haul of
confiscated wildlife products Click photo to enlarge C Adam OSWELL /
WWF-Canon   Cambridge, UK, 22 June 2009-the World Customs Organization (WCO)
has launched ENVIRONET, a secure internet-based tool to share information
quickly and securely amongst environmental law enforcement officers
worldwide to enhance environmental border protection. 

Customs officers need rapid access to information-for example, expert
opinion of the identity of wildlife parts in trade, or information about the
legality of exporting particular items, and now they will now able to draw
on the expertise of colleagues world-wide. 

"Fighting environment crime is now a top priority for Customs authorities
around the world as the international community becomes increasingly
concerned about the way in which the planet is being degraded through
insensitive and often criminal behaviour," said Kunio Mikuriya, WCO
Secretary General. 

"Regular exchange of information is essential for any successful border
enforcement and maximum benefit can be obtained by exchanging real-time
information in a simple and easy way." 

Environmental crime is increasing globally, with enforcement officers
playing a central role in controlling international trade in environmentally
sensitive goods and eradicating illegal trafficking. To assist officers in
these tasks, the new, simple way of sharing information quickly and easily
was developed. 

The new communication tool will focus on trade in goods falling under
several international agreements, including those covering trade in
hazardous chemicals, living modified organisms, chemical weapons, as well as
wildlife products falling within the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). 

Information can also be exchanged on nuclear materials and illegal,
unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. 

ENVIRONET complements the existing EU-TWIX, a TRAFFIC-run system, which
includes a mailing list that links enforcement authorities dealing with
wildlife trade in the European Union (EU). EU-TWIX is highly specialized,
dealing only with wildlife crime issues and with a built-in database
allowing analysis of wildlife seizures, whereas ENVIRONET is more general,
dealing with seven types of environmental offences.

ENVIRONET will be provided and maintained by the WCO to members of a select
closed user group comprising Customs, law enforcement officers, and members
of similar, recognized national authorities, free of charge.

Article originally appeared on TRAFFIC (http://www.traffic.org/). 

See website for complete article licensing information.

 

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