WCO Annual Reports The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has released its annual reports on Drugs, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Tobacco. The “WCO Customs and Drugs Report 2011” analyses seizures on a regional basis and by category of drugs intercepted, focusing in particular on routings, means of transport and concealment methods used, with an emphasis on the illegal trade in opiates, cocaine, cannabis and psychotropic substances. In 2011 there were 47 000 seizures of drugs, yielding a total of 1 795 tonnes of narcotics, including 73 tonnes of cocaine, 1 614 tonnes of cannabis and 89 tonnes of opiates. The number of seizures and the quantities of drugs intercepted in 2011 has increased substantially compared to 2010. The “WCO Customs and Tobacco Report 2011” presents an analysis of all reported seizures in order to provide a global overview of the tobacco smuggling phenomenon and the various international initiatives to combat this illicit trade to which the WCO contributes and in which it encourages its members to take part. During 2011 there were 1 026 recorded seizures of illicit consignments of cigarettes, translating into approximately 1.9 billion cigarettes. These figures show a remarkable decrease of both the number of seizures and the amount of contraband seized in 2011. The “WCO Customs and IPR Report 2011” confirms the changing nature of IPR infringements. Whether it be the nature of the counterfeit goods or the routes they take, international fraud networks are still quick to react to new market conditions and the opportunities they present. In the course of 2011 there were more than 25 500 reported cases involving the seizure of more than 143 million counterfeit or pirated articles. A rise in counterfeits can be observed in pharmaceutical products, and mobile phones and their accessories. Costa Rica WCO Contracting Party On 3 July 2012 Costa Rica became the 143rd Contracting Party to the WCO Harmonised System Convention. A range of Customs and trade-related topics were discussed with the Ambassador of Costa Rica, with particular focus on trade facilitation, economic competitiveness, harmonisation of procedures, Customs reform and modernisation, and the Customs-Business partnership. Brazil Files Chicken Dispute against South Africa The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has advised that Brazil has requested consultations with South Africa under the WTO’s dispute settlement system concerning South Africa’s anti-dumping measures on chicken meat (poultry meat) from Brazil. By way of clarification, the request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties (Brazil and South Africa) an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.
