18-20 April 2023, Kashiwa, Japan

The 2nd Meeting of the Heads of Asia/Pacific WCO Regional Customs Laboratory (RCL) was held at the Central Customs Laboratory of Japan in Kashiwa, Japan as RCL Japan on 18-20 April 2023 with hybrid manner organized by Asia/Pacific Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB A/P).  Mr. Norikazu Kuramoto, Head and Ms. Zhengqing (Grace) YE and Mr. Jaemin Cho, Program Managers joined in person from ROCB A/P as the organizer.

The Heads of the 5 RCLs in the region (namely RCL China, RCL India, RCL Indonesia, RCL Japan and RCL Korea), representatives from the WCO Secretariat, Asia/Pacific Vice-Chair Office and Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific (RILO A/P) participated in the meeting. The EU-WCO HS-African programme members also joined as observers as well.

Mr. Kuramoto provided ROCB A/P report on the capacity building activities delivered in 2022-23. In addition, WCO Secretariat, Asia Pacific Vice Chair, and RILO A/P also provide its recent activity and updates for participants. Thereafter, all the RCLs provided their outlines and recent initiatives to enhance professionalism in Customs Analysis area and had an opportunity to learn from each other on training strategies and activities of the respective RCLs.

During the meeting, RCL Japan and RCL Korea shared the experience of WCO Professionals Program 2022/23 with its participants feedbacks. WCO Regional Development Manager shared its Human Resource Development programs for marvelous leaning opportunity for its members. ROCB A/P led the discussion on capacity building needs on Customs Laboratory matters. WCO Tariff and Trade Affairs shared related information of Customs Laboratory for good reference. RILO A/P shared recent trend of illegal drug globally for reference.

The Heads of RCLs exchanged views on how to enhance regional cooperation among RCLs in Asia Pacific region. The delegates intensively discussed and finally agreed further close cooperation among RCLs through active communication and crate the RCL detailed contact point list for this purpose. 

The delegations visited Tokyo Customs and its laboratory at the last day to learn its operation we as well as exchanged of views from professional aspect.  

For more information, please contact at rocb@rocbap.org.