ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, Friday, November 22, 2013: The National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Ministry of Finance and Energy will host a regional workshop on Protecting Caribbean Borders from Illegal Trade in Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) from Wednesday November 27th – Friday 29th 2013, at the Flamboyant Hotel and Villas, Morne Rouge, St. George’s, Grenada.
The main objective of the Workshop is to present Risk Management as a tool that can be implemented through the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) to guard against illegal trade in ODS and ODS based products and to build capacity amongst National Ozone Officers (NOO), Customs Officers and Customs Brokers in applying the tools of risk management towards the coordinated and effective implementation of import/export licensing systems and quota systems and the phase out of hydro- chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
Participants will be made of up National Ozone Officers, Customs Officers, National Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) Officers and Customs Brokers of the English-Speaking Caribbean Sub-Region. The Workshop will be facilitated by Regional experts in AYSCUDA and Risk Management and Illegal Trade in ODS from the Caribbean in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Illegal trade in ODS continues to be a challenge for Caribbean Countries. Their peculiarities as Small Island Developing States with numerous beaches, coves and bays pose a special challenge. Their ability to identify and manage risks associated to illegal trade in ODS will increase spotting potential cases and minimizing actual illegal trade cases. This will ensure that Caribbean Countries are well placed to effectively and efficiently maintain zero consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and successfully phase out HCFCs through the effective and coordinated implementation of their import/export licensing systems and quota systems.
