Experts from World Customs Organization (WCO) and China Customs are in Fiji conducting a WCO Sub-Regional Workshop for Oceanian Members on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy from 4th -8th December, 2017 at the Regional Training Centre in Nasese.

Ms. Sandra Wens, Technical Expert, WCO Intellectual Property Right (IPR), Health & Safety Programme and Mr. Tong Hua from China Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF) are the key facilitators of the workshop funded by CCF.

Customs staff from Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) and regional countries including Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu will be trained on best practices, experiences, methods and approaches to combating counterfeiting and piracy to improve networking and to encourage the exchange of information.

“We all will agree that rapid economic, technological and social changes have brought an unprecedented era of beneficent international trade, migration and communication throughout the World,” FRCS Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das said.

“But such changes have also produced a much more sinister by-product in the form of international crime, terrorism, arms trafficking, counterfeiting and piracy,” Mr. Das said.

Mr. Das stressed that due to the high level exploitation by counterfeiters, enhancement of IPR knowledge is crucial.

“Criminals are taking advantage of globalization and loose border arrangements to disguise the scale and locations of their operations,” FRCS Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das said.

“Having said that, capacity building in the fight against infringements of IPR is vital for Customs Administrations faced with the double burden of ensuring trade facilitation whilst simultaneously working to protect the health safety of consumers against trade of fake products which pose a potential threat to their health and safety,” Mr. Das said.

Ms. Wens said it is important to enhance cooperation with private sector as well to combat counterfeit and piracy.

The workshop will conclude this Friday.

Photo Caption: Workshop participants with FRCS Director People Capability & Culture, Mrs. Ruth Williams (front left) and key facilitators Ms. Sandra Wens, Technical Expert, WCO Intellectual Property Right (IPR), Health & Safety Programme (front right) and Mr. Tong Hua from China Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF).

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