World Customs Organization

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The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an international body dedicated to helping member countries (usually represented by the respective customs) cooperate and communicate with each other in customs matters. It was founded in 1952 as the Customs Cooperation Council, a name it used until 1994, when it was changed to the current one.

Its headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium, and its work helps to develop agreed rules in customs procedures, as well as to provide assistance and advice to customs services.

WCO has established a standard international product classification called the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System or the Harmonized Dry System, which manages the technical aspects of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements on Customs Assessment and Rules of Origin.

WCO stands out for its work in areas that cover the development of international conventions, instruments and tools on issues such as commodity classification, valuation, rules of origin, customs revenue collection, supply chain security, international trade facilitation, customs enforcement activities, combating counterfeiting in support of intellectual property rights (IPR), combating drugs, illegal arms trade, promoting integrity, sustainable delivery, capacity-building to assist with customs reform and modernization.

It has 183 member countries, and its current general secretary is Kunio Mikuriya (2009-).

WCO is not involved in trade or tariff disputes, as this is the responsibility of the World Trade Organization.

In June 2005, the SAFE programme was adopted, an international convention containing 17 standards to increase security, commercial facilities, the fight against corruption and tax collection.

The WCO governing body, the Council, is based on the responsibilities of a Secretariat and a number of technical and advisory committees to carry out its mission. The Secretariat consists of more than 100 international staff, technical experts and administrative staff of different nationalities.

As a forum for dialogue and exchange of experiences among national customs officials, WCO offers its members a number of international conventions and other instruments, as well as technical assistance and training services provided directly by or with the participation of the secretariat. The secretariat also actively supports its members in their efforts to modernize and strengthen their capacities in their national customs administrations.

In addition to the WCO's essential role in stimulating the growth of licit international trade, its efforts to combat the