From September 12 to 13, 2023, the Department for Specialized Training and Canine Services of the State Customs Service conducted specialized training for officials of the customs authorities of Ukraine on Detection and preventing cross-border environmental crimes.

The practical orientation of the event was ensured thanks to the participation of Mr Oleksii Kalinovich, the Deputy Director of the Department for Combating Smuggling and Customs Violations of the State Customs Service, Mr Illia Maksymkin andMs Inna Kucherenko, the representatives of the Department for Organization of Official Control and Non-Tariff Regulation of the Non-Tariff Regulation Directorate of the State Customs Service, who drew attention to the peculiarities of detecting and qualifying environmental offenses , as well as changes in legislation.

The participants of the event were 19 customs officials, the representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, in particular, Ms Valentyna Vasylenko, the Ozone Layer Protection Division of the Department for Climate Policy and Ozone Layer Preservation, Ms Tetiana Yakovleva, the Head of the Aquaculture Division of the Department for Scientific Support, Ichthyology and Aquaculture of the State Agency of Melioration and Fisheries of Ukraine and Ms Sofia Shutiak, the representative of WWF-Ukraine.

Particular attention was focused on the requirements for filling out and using CITES permit documents, monitoring the movement of sturgeon fish species and their products, the role of customs authorities in monitoring the cross-border movement of ozone-depleting substances, pesticides, hazardous chemicals and waste.

Direct communication between customs officers and representatives of specialized departments of the State Customs Service and other state control bodies contributes to the exchange of experience and the improvement of the effectiveness of customs control and the prevention of environmental offenses.