UNODC-WCO Partnership Boosts IPR Awareness Among Customs Authorities in Central Asia

On 11-13 July 2023, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for Central Asia (UNODC ROCA) conducted a Regional training on prevention and detection of Intellectual property rights violations and Goods Identification Workshop in Aktau, Kazakhstan under the UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme (CCP).

The training was organized jointly with the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan to strengthening the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of the Customs and other law enforcement officers, as well as members of the Port Control Units (PCUs) and Air Cargo Control Units (ACCU) of Central Asia on detection and inspection of high-risk commodities in terms of violations of intellectual property rights. The training aimed to apply modern Customs control techniques and systems and promote partnerships between Customs and private sector to prevent Customs violations.

Mr. Talgat Baysin, Deputy Head of State Revenue Department of Mangystau region, welcomed the training participants and marked the valuable contributions made by UNODC and WCO in enhancing Customs capacities in the region to improve trade security. He wished everyone fruitful sustainable cooperation in effective information exchange under the CCP Inter-Regional Network of Customs Authorities and Port Control Units (IREN).

Sardor Atashikov, CCP Regional Programme Coordinator in Central Asia thanked the Government of Kazakhstan for hosting the training in Aktau, which clearly demonstrated the country’s commitment to preventing and countering illegal movement of goods while facilitating legal trade and promoting international border security cooperation between Customs and business communities. He stressed the importance of IPR issues for PCUs/ACCUs, who managed to suppress trafficking of 10,000,000 pieces of falsified and misdeclared medical products, as well as 26,402,269 pieces and 266.283 kg of IPR goods in 2022.

WCO trainers, Ms. Sandra Wens and Ms. Akosita Valamalua, provided a thorough insight to participants on a range of IRP infringement issues, risk indicators, protection marks, legal regulations including TRIPs Agreement, as well as regional challenges in the current Customs enforcement of IPR goods. Experts from pharmaceutical companies and rightsholders from Puma, Colgate-Palmolive, Sanofi, Hermes-Moet, Toyota, Lego were invited to the training to explain the current trends in counterfeit products, smuggling routes to reach the market, and share best practices in identification of such falsified goods. Specialist from the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan held session on national IPR strategy ensured by QAZPATENT (National IPR Centre) and procedure of registration of copyright/trademark rights in Kazakhstan, as well as advanced mechanisms of safeguarding the manufacturers’ rights, human health, and safety.

As part of the training, a study tour to Aktau seaport was also organized for the participants to acquaint them with Customs control of maritime consignments on the Caspian Sea and demonstrate PCU operations at Seaport.

At the end of training, participants appreciated the practical nature of the training and an opportunity to approach rightsholders and establish new contacts, which will reinforce their efforts in maintaining effective IPR controls from Customs perspective and inspection mechanisms to foster international trade security.

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Programme, and the Government of France.