By Jacquiline Emodek
Uganda recently joined over 33 members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Xiamen-China to conduct a debrief and evaluation of the operation Demeter X and Operation Mekong Dragon under the theme, “Synergy and innovation: Empowering Customs for a green future.”
Operation Demeter X is a global operation on the monitoring and control of illicit transboundary movement of waste controlled under the Basel convention and the illegal trade in substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol of 1987 which aims at protecting the Ozone layer.
This protocol came in place to minimize the use of and emission of Ozone-depleting substances such as chlorine and bromine. The depletion of the ozone layer is associated with increased radiation which has side effects such as Non-melanoma skin cancer, melanoma cancer, eye contracts, immune suppression, damage to marine food chain and fish stock, damage to outdoor material
Since the inception of the Demeter series in 2009, 10 phases of operations Demeter have been launched by WCO with China initiating 7 phases.
In his key address, Wang Lingjun the vice minister of General administration of China Customs pointed out that the earth is the only planet for Human survival according to the words of the President of China Xi Jinping.
“China has embraced the implementation of the Basel Convention and Montreal protocol in regulating and controlling illicit waste trade by banning the importation of solid waste and ivory trade thus honouring the CITES convention,” he said.
Delivering his remarks, the deputy secretary general of WCO Mr. Ricardo Trevino highlighted the fact that Customs has both national and global responsibilities.
“Customs Officials are defenders against illegal action that affect the environment; protecting our environment and climate is very crucial and operation Demeter has been about that since its inception 10 years ago,” he stated.
In this presentation titled “Uganda’s Experience in implementing Operation Demeter X from the perspective of controlling illicit waste Trade”Paul Karatunga, Supervisor Customs and Border control- URA highlighted the legal framework used to support the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and Basel Conventions.
He further explained how the convention is domesticated in the EACCMA 2004, EACCR 2006, the National Environment Management Act 2019, and the National Environment Regulations 2020 among others.
