The specialized training of officials of the customs bodies of Ukraine on “Detection and prevention of cross-border environmental offenses” was held by the Department for Specialized Training and Canine Services of the State Customs Service of Ukraine from 8 till 9 December 2021.

The event was attended by 11 customs officials of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, in particular Dr. Volodymyr Domashlinets, Head of Fauna Protection Division of the Department of Biodiversity Protection and Land Resources, Ms Valentyna Vasylenko, Head of the Ozone Layer Protection Division of the Climate Policy and Ozone Layer Conservation, Ms Tetiana Yakovleva, Head of the Division of Aquaculture of the Directorate for Scientific Support, Ichthyology and Aquaculture of the State Fisheries Agency Of Ukraine, Ms Anna Gaiova, WWF-Ukraine representative, Mr. Biletskyi Pavlo, Deputy Head of the Directorate for Customs Control and Registration of Lviv Customs. The event was moderated by Svitlana Zhyrnova, the expert of the Department.

During the event, practical cases of falsification of CITES permits and methods of detecting forged permits were disclosed, as well as differences between collected in nature and artificially grown plants, for example: orchids, cacti and other succulents, peculiarities of control over the movement of sturgeon and their products were considered.

Particular attention was paid to the role of customs authorities in controlling the transboundary movement of ozone-depleting substances and fluorinated greenhouse gases, goods and equipment that may contain them, hazardous waste and other hazardous chemicals.

Direct communication between the representatives of state regulatory authorities promotes the exchange of experience, cooperation and efficiency in the implementation of control functions and prevention of environmental offenses.