Brussels, 27 March 2008-The
illegal international trade in environmentally
sensitive items such as ozone depleting
substances, toxic chemicals,
hazardous waste, and endangered species
is a serious problem with global impact.
This scourge which affects all countries
threatens human health, deteriorates the
environment, and results in revenue loss
for governments in some cases. In fact the
illegal trade in wildlife can be as profitable
as dealing in narcotics. Shawls made from
the wool of Tibetan antelope, the sale of
which is completely illegal, are sold for
up to 20,000 Euros each, while caviar from
endangered sturgeon approaches 8,000 Euros
per kilo on the retail market. Added to
this is the alarming rise in virulent wildlife
diseases, such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome) and avian influenza that cross
species lines to infect humans and endanger
public health.
Ozone depleting substances
(ODS) such as those used in refrigeration
and air conditioning systems not only destroy
the earth's protective shield (the stratospheric
ozone layer), but if released into the atmosphere
also contribute to climate change since
they are also powerful greenhouse gases.
Illegal trade in ODS has become a global
phenomenon. Toxic waste too causes long-term
poisoning of soil and water, affecting people's
health and living conditions, sometimes
irreversibly. Unscrupulous waste trade has
become a serious concern since the 1980s
and has now become a criminal offence under
the Basel Convention on the "Control
of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and their Disposal". The waste
may pass through several countries before
reaching its final destination, making it
more difficult to pinpoint responsibilities.
UNEP estimated that
some 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste is
generated worldwide annually, and this is
steadily growing each year. 70% of this
waste is dumped in developing countries
in Asia and Africa. Violations of the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) also continue
to worry environmentalists as more and more
fauna and flora face pressures that could
lead to their extinction; a real loss to
mankind's animal and floral kingdoms.
Customs administrations
have in the last few years reported more
than 9800 CITES and 220 hazardous waste
seizures but this is only the tip of the
iceberg. In addition, increasing evidence
has shown that organized crime groups are
involved in this dirty business. The international
community is now mobilized more than ever
to fight against this unscrupulous trade.
During a high level
meeting at WCO headquarters recently on
enforcement issues, delegates representing
the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), Customs administrations, other international
organizations, and stakeholders who have
an interest in the environment called for
an urgent and concerted global response
to tackle ever increasing environment crime.
Participants agreed on an Action Plan to
fight against environment crime.
The Plan foresees the
promotion of environment crime as one of
the priorities for Customs administrations,
the training of Customs officers to improve
their detection techniques given their frontline
position at borders, the creation of specialized
units at Customs offices to deal with this
form of crime, and enhancing internatinal
co-operation and information exchange. In
this regard, the WCO will use its global
communication tool, the Customs Enforcement
Network (CEN), for realtime information
exchange. The CEN will enable Customs officers
worldwide to be alerted quickly and facilitate
their immediate response to any illegal
trafficking of environmentally sensitive
goods.
To ensure effective
international co-operation against environment
crime, the WCO and UNEP signed a Memorandum
of Understanding in 2003 and are also partners
in the Green Customs Initiative www.greencustoms.org/
dedicated to training and building the capacity
of Customs officials across the globe. Both
Organizations are committed to strengthening
and enhancing their partnership which is
aimed at protecting the environment through
more effective enforcement of environment
crime.
Nick Nuttall,
UNEP Spokesperson/Head of Media,
