News

The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Network implements enforcement–related activities since its inception in 2003 including regional enforcement meetings, border dialogues and a series of awards for Customs and Enforcement Officers. This year’s ECA network and enforcement meeting takes place in April 2024 in Tirana, Albania.

San Salvador, El Salvador, 16 April 2024 − During the week of March 22 to 28, a delegation from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), OzonAction Branch for Latin America carried out a successful mission in El Salvador.

Virtual Meeting, 13 – 14 December 2023 ‒ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Asia Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in collaboration with the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) developed guidelines for enforcing licensing systems for controlled substances, trained customs officials on using a coordinated approach to control trade and strengthened the enforcement of national regulations for the Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

4 December 2023, Paris/Brussels – The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has just announced another successful outcome for Operation DEMETER, a series of coordinated global enforcement actions that seek to intercept illegal shipments of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hazardous wastes. These commodities are regulated respectively by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

Apia, Samoa, 4–9 September 2023 ‒ UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Asia Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team organized 1) a Network Meeting of Pacific Island Countries (PIC) National Ozone Officers (NOOs), 2) the Thematic Workshop on Nation-wide Data Collection under the Kigali Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Implementation Plan (KIP) preparation, and 3) the Twinning National Ozone Officers - Customs Workshop on ODS/HFC Trade Control and Reporting.

Malé, Republic of the Maldives, 21–25 May 2023 – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in Asia and the Pacific organized a Network Meeting of South Asia (SA) National Ozone Officers (NOOs) and the Twinning National Ozone and Customs Officers Workshop on Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) / Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) Trade Control and Reporting. The Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Maldives, H.E, Aminath Shauna, warmedy welcomed the participants to both meetings.

Halong City, Viet Nam, 22 March 2023 ‒ UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in collaboration with the Government of Vietnam organized a Network Meeting of Southeast Asia (SEA) National Ozone Officers (NOOs) in Halong City from 13-15 March 2023 to facilitate the Network countries to share experiences/good practices in various areas under the Montreal Protocol.

Nominations of Customs and Enforcement Officers from Bulgaria, China, France, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Spain, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, as well as the European Commission and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), have been validated

14 December 2022, Paris. France -- The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has just announced the successful outcome of Operation DEMETER VIII, a coordinated enforcement action that aims at intercepting illegal shipments of hazardous waste, especially plastic waste, as well as ozone depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Bangkok, 23 November 2021 - The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), in the Asia-Pacific Office, in collaboration with UNEP’s National Environmental Law Unit organized a thematic workshop on Strengthening Enforcement of National Montreal Protocol Legislations for National Ozone Unit (NOU) staff and Enforcement Officers of South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA), and the Pacific Island Countries (PIC).

Saudi Arabia, 16 July 2021 - The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), West Asia Office in association with its partners the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the KSA-Customs Office, and in cooperation with the Philippines Ozone Desk organized a successful two-day (12-13 July 2021) online training for Customs Officers to accomplish the tasks under the HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan (HPMP) in Saudi Arabia.  It is worth noting that this was the first time the West Asia Network coordinated with the South

5 May 2020, Doha, Qatar – The COVID-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on the world, what UN Secretary General  António Guterres calls "a public health emergency… an economic crisis, a social crisis and a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis." While the world is grappling with this multifaceted challenge, most of humanity is now experiencing the “Great Lockdown” where in-person gatherings have been replaced by social distancing to protect public health.

Collaboration between China and Thailand using OzonAction’s informal Prior Informed Consent (iPIC) system has resulted in the prevention of a huge consignment of ozone-depleting and climate damaging hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Those chemicals, which are primarily used as refrigerants for air conditioners and fridges, are controlled under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and are being phased out by all countries according to a specific timeline.

Fill out the 2020 online nomination form here. Download the 2020 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards Information note.

The raid is not like other police raids. No flashing lights and no breaking down doors. There is no cache of weapons to seize. But on a planetary scale, what the police came to confiscate is no less dangerous. On the outskirts of Vientiane, Lao Environment Police enter a nondescript shop selling refrigerators, rice cookers and other appliances, flanked by officials from the Pollution Control Department and the Department of Domestic Trade. They have been tipped off that the shop is likely selling smuggled refrigerants.

30 December 2019, Muscat  ̶  Illegal trade in substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), undermines national commitments under this international environmental agreement. It also violates national laws, deprives the government of rightful income, and supports other forms of illegal activity. Customs officials worldwide, including those in Oman, are highly committed to protecting their borders by fighting this illicit chemical trade.

Torugart, Kyrgyzstan, 11 December 2019  The first X-ray equipment for trucks has been installed at the Torugart checkpoint in the Naryn province of Kyrgyzstan which is connected through the Torugart mountain pass with the Xinjiang region of China. It is one of the highest mountain roads of the country at an elevation of 3,752 meter above sea level and located in the Tian Shan mountains. The trade volume between China and Kyrgyzstan is estimated to be at least USD 2 billion per year.

22 November 2019, Kampala, Uganda  ̶  Today saw the close of a three-day twinning workshop and border dialogues for National Ozone Officers and Customs officials from countries of the East African Region – Africa Anglophone Network.

 Nomination form in EnglishФорма номинации на русском языке

Koror, Palau, 16 August 2019 — Besides training of enforcement officers, what other practices are effective for monitoring and enforcing national laws and regulations relating to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and other ozone depleting substances (ODS)?

Asuncion, 20 August 2019 — International illegal trade in environmentally sensitive commodities such as ozone depleting substances, toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes, endangered species and living modified organisms, is an international problem with serious consequences. It directly threatens human health and the environment; contributes to the loss of species; results in revenue loss for governments; and undermines the success of international environmental agreements by circumventing agreed rules and procedures.

BANGKOK, 19 October 2018 – Twenty-six Ozone and Customs Officers from nine countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia Networks attended a Twinning Workshop and back to back Parallel Border Dialogues, which was organised by UN Environment OzonAction from 17-19 October 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.  

JOHANNESBURG, 26 October 2018 - National Ozone and Customs Officers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region (Africa Anglophone Network) gathered at the Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa from 24-26 October 2018, for a three-day Twinning Workshop and Border Dialogues. The workshop was organised by UN Environment OzonAction in collaboration with the Government of South Africa.