Dubai Customs participate in the World Customs Organization meetings

Mr. Ahmed Butti conducted a series of meetings with directors from different international Customs Departments, with which Dubai Customs seek to reinforce its relations in intelligence and technical cooperation.

The Director General also participated in the Arab Group meeting which was represented by the regional office of the Middle & Near East and North Africa. The meeting aimed at defining the Arab countries' situation on Customs Cooperation Council's agenda.

The Customs Cooperation Council meetings debated the activities of the action committees and permanent departments at the organization.
The meetings also tackled other hot topics including the customs tariffs, valuation, rules of origin, combating counterfeit and piracy, intellectual property rights' violation and other subjects related to the implementation of the Customs rules.

These topics were included in the report of the World Customs Organization General Secretary, Mr. Michel Danet based on the results of Policies Committee meetings attended by the Customs Cooperation Council's chairman and the appointed regional vice presidents in the regional action areas, in addition to the regional representatives in the Committee.

One of the major topics debated during the conventions was the amendment of articles 8 and 18 of the Customs Cooperation Council constitution, which restricted the membership in the World Customs Organization to include the Customs and Economic unions only.

The European Union suggested this amendment which showed its interest in becoming a main member rather than an observer.

The General Secretary of the World Customs Organization presented in his report a suggestion on the exceptional acceptance of the European Union as a full member, until the Customs Cooperation Council's constitution is amended, due to the financial and moral support presented by the EU give to the World Customs Organization.

The General Secretary of the World Customs Organization awarded a number of Customs Departments for their efforts in protecting the intellectual properties rights.

Dubai Customs successful efforts in fighting piracy and counterfeit were highly praised by the General Secretary, especially after his recent visit to Dubai which witnessed the announcement of the hosting of the 4th Global Congress on Combating Counterfeit and Piracy and the launch of Dubai Customs' comprehensive media campaign on Intellectual Property Rights.