IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
27 September 2022  
(22-7233)  Page: 1/14 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects  of 
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English   
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM  
OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS  
WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO)  
At its meeting of  6 July  2022, the Council for TRIPS agreed to invite intergovernmental organization 
observers to the Council to update the information on their technical and financial cooperation 
programmes relating to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.  
 
The present document reproduces the information which has been received from the World Custom s 
Organization (WCO)  by means of a communication dated  21 September 2022 . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1  Overview of World Customs Organization (WCO) activities and tools of relevance to 
the TRIPS Agreement  
1.  The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Health and Safety Programme of the W orld Customs 
Organization (WCO)  maintains its resolve to protect consumer health and safety, and continues to 
combat counterfeiting and piracy through a variety of activities described in the following 
paragraphs. The WC O experience in this field is in line with the other international organi zations 
working in the field of IPR enforcement. There seems to be a shift of the modus operandi towards 
the use of small consignments thus reducing the numbers of large seizures, but  there does not seem 
to be any significant fall in the number of counterfeits traded globally. The WCO 's main activity is to 
raise awareness about customs work in this area either towards other international organi zations or 
by promoting capacity building activities for our member administrations. The capacity building 
consists of two factors; training through workshops and education and training through operational 
activities. A list of the WCO activities is attached in the Annex.  
1.2  Operations  
2.  The WCO organi zes simultaneous enforcement activities with multiple customs administrations. 
These operations are aimed at knowing the scale of global counterfeiting whilst providing 
participating customs officers with hands -on experience. Operations, which quantify and  qualify the 
impact of counterfeit activities, can also serve as an excellent opportunity to strengthen Customs ' 
enforcement capacity. Participating members are able to learn about practical border enforcement 
measures through our Accredited Experts and ga in hands -on experience using WCO tools, such as 
the IPR CENcomm Group.  
3.  The IPR CENcomm Group is a secure communication tool used for data exchange on counterfeit 
medical supplies and fake medicines, enabling real time sharing of information between WCO 
members. WCO Operation STOP and STOP II respectively held in 2020 and 2021 to 2022, was for 
fighting against illicit medicines and medical products linked to  the COVID -19 pandemic. Participating 
members used the IPR CENcomm Group to report their seizures and the WCO secretariat shared 
information alerts  to members through the platform.  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  1.3  National/Regional seminars  
4.  The WCO delivers extensive capacity building activities, mainly in the form of legislative training, 
document targeting training and product identific ation training, with private sector cooperation. But 
the organi zation also performs diagnostic missions. In the diagnostic missions, WCO experts visit 
the country and assess the Customs administrations capabilities in the domain of fighting 
counterfeits. The evaluation includes both the legal base and practical and pro cedural arrangements, 
and leads to a recommendation from WCO. The WCO conducted several training 
seminars/workshops for officers from a number of WCO member administrations in this reporting 
period.  
1.4  Counterfeit and Piracy Group (CAP) meeting  
5.  The annual WCO  Counterfeiting and Piracy (CAP) Group meeting provides a forum for customs 
and related law enforcement agencies to exchange information, experiences and best practices on 
combating counterfeiting and piracy. Members explored the challenges posed by the internet and 
cyber investigations, e -commerce and small consignments but also food and plant varieties were 
discussed. During this meeting, members also shared their experiences and exchanged practices on 
fighting counterfeits.  
1.5  E-learning module (CLiCK)  
6.  By using the WCO 's internet -based e -learning module 'CLiCK ', customs officers can acquire 
practical knowledge on border enforcement related to IPR. They can train themselves on 
intellectual  property (IP) agreements, such as the TRIPS Agreement, and on practica l, risk -based 
document targeting . 
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  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 3 - ANNEX1 
Name of programme or project  National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy  
Date and end date  28 March 2022 - 1 April 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Thailand  
Brief description  From 28 March to 1 April 2022, the WCO conducted a National Workshop on Combatting Counterfeiting and 
Piracy in Thailand. The Workshop was held thanks to financial support from the Customs Cooperation Fund of 
Japan (CCF/Japan) and in collaboration with the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building for Asia/Pacific. As 
part of this mission, the border enforcement system in place in Thailand to protect IPRs was analysed by a WCO 
expert using the WCO Self -Assessment Tool. The results revealed that Thailand already has a robust system 
enabling Thai Customs to implement appropriate IPR enforcement at its borders. Thai Customs has, 
nevertheless, made additional efforts to render its border enforcement system even more effective through 
improvements that will come to light in a few months ' time. 
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  Participants were trained to improve effective Customs controls by applying risk management techniques, 
identifying risk indicators and focusing on appropriate targeting and selection of suspicious air 
cargoes/shipments, and performing various types of exercises.  
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/m edia/newsroom/2022/april/thai -customs -benefits -from-wco-guidance -on-ipr-
border -enforcement.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
 
 
1 In English only .  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 4 - Name of programme or project  National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy  
Date and end date  11 April 2022 - 15 April 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Gabon  
Brief description  From 11 to 15 April 2022, the WCO held a national workshop in Libreville (Gabon) on the protection of IPR. This 
workshop, which was attended by 20 officials from Gabon Customs, took place at the offices of the Gabonese 
General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDDI). Its organization was made possible by the financial 
support fr om the Japanese Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF Japan). This five ‑day workshop was part of the 
implementation of the WCO IPR Strategy (Version  2020), which was approved by the Enforcement Committee 
(EC) at its 41st Session. Its aim is to examine the national  legal framework of the country concerned and 
determine how best to make it compatible with an effective policy on combating IPR infringements committed 
at borders, backing up this policy with a suitable risk management strategy and ensuring that cooperati on is 
stepped up with the private sector and the other public bodies responsible for dealing with IPR violations. The 
workshop also provided a framework that fostered fruitful exchanges of views, which will help to further 
strengthen cooperation between th e WCO and Gabon Customs in combating trade in substandard and 
counterfeit vaccines, medicines and medical supplies and equipment in relation to the COVID ‑19 pandemic.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or imp act Participants were trained to improve effective Customs controls by applying risk management techniques, 
identifying risk indicators and focusing on appropriate targeting and selection of suspicious air 
cargoes/shipments, and performing various types of  exercises . 
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2022/may/wco -national -workshop -for-the-gabon -customs -
administrat ion-on-the-protection -of-ipr.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 5 - Name of programme or project  National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy  
Date and end date  16 May 2022 - 18 May 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Cambodia  
Brief description  From 16 to 18 May 2022, the WCO conducted a National Workshop on Combatting Counterfeiting and Piracy in 
Cambodia. The Workshop was held thanks to financial support from the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan 
(CCF/Japan) and in collaboration with the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building for Asia/Pacific (ROCB A/P). 
This Worksh op was aimed mainly at supporting implementation of Cambodia Customs ' new regulation on 
Customs IPR border enforcement. The regulation was introduced in 2021 to stop counterfeit items at Cambodia 's 
border following applications by right holders. During the  Workshop, IPR experts from the WCO and the ROCB 
A/P described the legal basis for IPR enforcement, such as the WTO TRIPS Agreement, while representatives 
from Cambodia Customs Headquarters gave a detailed presentation on the new regulation. The experts al so 
shared their knowledge of how to implement IPR enforcement effectively and of international best practices in 
that domain, including cooperation with stakeholders, information sharing with other Customs administrations 
and the WCO, and risk management.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  Participants were trained to improve effective Customs controls by applying risk management techniques, 
identifying risk indicators and focusing on appropriate targeting and selection of suspicious air 
cargoes/shipments, and performing various types of exercises . 
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2022/june/cambodia -customs -benefits -from-wco-guidance -on-
ipr-border -enforcement.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd .org 
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 6 - Name of programme or project  National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy  
Date and end date  13 July 2022 - 15 July 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Azerbaijan  
Brief description  The WCO Secretariat organised a virtual workshop on combating counterfeiting and piracy for the State Customs 
Committee of Azerbaijan from 13 to 15  July, 2022. Twenty Customs officers successfully participated in the 
workshop.  WCO tools such as the IPR CEN comm, the IPR Handbook, and the IPR Strategy 2020 were the main 
topics covered by the Workshop. This workshop was supported by the WIPO who provide a presentation on 
"Building Respect for Intellectual Property – IP Enforcement and Border ". In the Day 2, v arious representatives 
of international brands provided training on how to recognise a genuine from a fake product  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  Participants were trained to improve effective C ustoms controls by applying risk management techniques, 
identifying risk indicators and focusing on appropriate targeting and selection of suspicious air 
cargoes/shipments, and performing various types of exercises.  
Website for further information   
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 7 - Name of programme or project  WCO IPR Diagnostic Mission for the Kazakhstan State Revenue Committee  
Date and end date  4 April 2022 - 8 April 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kazakhstan  
Brief description  From 4 to 8 April 2022, the WCO conducted a comprehensive diagnostic mission on combating counterfeiting 
and piracy for the Kazakhstan State Revenue Committee. The aim of this mission, spon sored by the Regional 
Office for Capacity Building for Europe, was to produce a report on the implementation status of the country 's 
various instruments related to lPR protection. Diagnostic reports make non -binding recommendations regarding 
the best pract ices applicable at national level, taking into account a country 's socio -economic framework. As a 
reminder, this mission is one of the actions designed to ensure effective implementation of the WCO IPR 
Strategy 2020, which places a high priority on capacit y-building activities in general and diagnostic missions in 
particular.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  Participants were trained to improve effective Customs controls by applying risk management techniques, 
identifying risk indicators and focusing on appropriate targeting and selection of suspicious air 
cargoes/shipments, and performing various types of exercises . 
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2022/april/wco -ipr-diagnostic -mission -for-the-kazakhstan -
state-revenue -committee.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 8 - Name of programme or project  WCO Builds IPR Enforcement Capacity for Customs Administrations in the Balkan Region  
Date and end date  2 March 2022 - 3 March 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  North Macedonia  
Brief description  From 2 to 3 March 2022, a WCO sub -regional workshop on combating counterfeiting and piracy was held in 
Skopje, North Macedonia. The workshop would not have been possible without the va lued sponsorship of the 
Japanese Customs Cooperation Fund or Europol 's technical support. The three -day workshop contribute d to the 
efficient implementation of the WCO 's new Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Strategy 2020, approved by the 
41st Meeting of the Enforcement Committee in March 2021, which aspires to provide an appropriate response 
in the current circumstances to the counterfeiting and piracy threat.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or  impact  Participants were trained to improve effective Customs controls by applying risk management techniques, 
identifying risk indicators and focusing on appropriate targeting and selection of suspicious air 
cargoes/shipments, and performing various type s of exercises  
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2022/march/wco -builds -ipr-enforcement -capacity -for-customs -
administrations -in-the-balkan -region.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 9 - Name of programme or project  IPR Workshop for Customs Administrations in the Latin America, Central America and Caribbean 
Region Health and Safety Programme in Panama  
Date and end date  1 June 2022 - 3 June 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Argentina; Brazil; Chile; Mexico; Panama; Peru  
Brief description  From 1 to 3 June 2022, a WCO sub -regional workshop on combatting counterfeiting and piracy was held in 
Panama City, Panama, with financial support from the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan. The main focus of 
the workshop was raising awareness of the dangers posed by counterfeit goods to the health and safety of 
citizens and of their economic consequences. The three -day workshop is designed to contribute to the effective 
and efficient implementation of the WCO 's IPR Strategy 2020.  
Beneficiary i nstitution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  Participants also had the opportunity to visit the port of Balboa and apply the theoretical risk assessment 
concepts they had learned through practical exercises on container targeting using the relevant WCO tools and 
instruments.  
Website for further inf ormation  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2022/july/ipr -workshop -for-customs -administrations -in-the-
latin-america -central -america -and-caribbean -region.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 10 - Name of programme or project  IPR Accreditation Workshop Organized for the WCO West and Central Africa region  
Date and end date  24 January 2022 - 28 January 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Benin; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Côte d 'Ivoire; Gabon; Guinea; Mali; Togo  
Brief description  As part of its IPR Strategy 2020, from 24 to 28 January 2022 the WCO successfully conducted a Regional 
Accreditation Workshop in the WCO West and Central Africa (WCA) region for Technical Operational Advisers 
(TOAs) in the IPR field. The Workshop, held in Lomé (Togo), was made possible thanks to financial support from 
the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan (CCF/Japan). Ten customs officers from eight WCA region 
administrations, namely Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Côte d 'Ivoire, Benin, Gabon, Cameroon and Togo , 
participated in the Workshop and demonstrated their skills in the IPR field, with the goal of becoming WCO 
Accredited Experts.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  During the five -day intensive Work shop, participants demonstrated their IPR knowledge and skills through a 
range of exercises, including presentations, discussions and role -play. The entire event was facilitated jointly 
by three Experts from the WCO Secretariat, one providing support on si te in Lomé and other two providing 
support remotely from WCO Headquarters in Brussels.  
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2022/january/ipr -accreditation -workshop -organized -for-the-
wco-west-and-central -africa -region.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 11 - Name of programme or project  IPR Accreditation Workshop Organized for Spanish  Speakers  
Date and end date  7 February 2022 - 11 February 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Argentina; Belize; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Mexico; Nicaragua; Peru; United States of America  
Brief description  From 7 to 11 February 2022, in Mexico City, Mexico, the WCO successfully conducted a second Regional 
Accreditation Workshop for Technical Operational Advisers (TOAs) for the Americas and Caribbean region, with 
the financial support of the Customs Cooperati on Fund of Japan. The objective of the workshop was to prepare 
a pool of Spanish -speaking IPR TOAs to conduct workshops on behalf of the WCO, thus increasing the number 
of technical assistances delivered to hispanophone Member countries who are faced with the challenge of 
combatting ever -changing and more sophisticated counterfeiting and piracy methods.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Participants were trained to improve effective Customs controls by applying risk management techniques, 
identifying ris k indicators and focusing on appropriate targeting and selection of suspicious air 
cargoes/shipments, and performing various types of exercises . 
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  The TOA accreditation process comprises two phases. The first one consists of the successful completion of a 
one-week workshop, and the second one relates to a field mission. The objective is to assess the ability of 
participants to conduct capacity -buildi ng activities in the IPR domain. Only participants who meet the expected 
level of training will be accredited as IPR Expert.  
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2022/february/wco -successfully -conducts -an-ipr-accreditation -
workshop -for-spanish -speakers.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 12 - Name of programme or project  National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy  
Date and end date  6 June 2021 - 8 June 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Mozambique  
Brief description  The WCO Secretariat organized a virtual workshop for the Customs Department of the Mozambique Revenue 
Authority from 6 to 8 July 2021, aimed at examining enforcement strategies related to sub -standard and 
counterfeit products and, more specific ally, at enhancing Mozambique Customs ' capacity to detect and 
confiscate illicit medicines and medical supplies related to the COVID -19 pandemic. WCO Secretariat experts 
presented the following recently -developed tools to the 27 workshop participants: "Training Handbook on Legal 
and Practical Measures Against Offences Relating to Intellectual Property Rights " and "IPR Self -Assessment 
Tool". The experts also told participants how to sign up for and use the "IPR CENcomm " platform, a 
communication tool enablin g users in different countries to exchange intelligence, messages and alerts via 
secure channels.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  The workshop organizers also encouraged participants to build str ong networks and relationships among 
themselves, with participants enjoying ample opportunity to share their experiences and to get to know each 
other better.  
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2021/july/mozambique -customs -receives -assistance -to-
enhance -its-capacity.aspx  
Conta ct point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 13 - Name of programme or project  National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy  
Date and end date  29 June 2022 - 30 June 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Philippines  
Brief description  On 29 and 30 June 2021, the WCO organized an online National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and 
Piracy for the Philippines Bureau of Customs, in close cooperation with the Regional Office for Ca pacity Building 
for the Asia/Pacific region. More than 20 participants from the Bureau of Customs attended the Workshop.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  Participants were trained to improve effective Customs controls by applying risk management techniques, 
identifying risk indicators and focusing on appropriate targeting and selection of suspicious air 
cargoes/shipments, and performing various types of exercises.  
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2021/july/successful -wco-ipr-workshop -held-online -for-
philippines -customs.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
 
Name of programme or project  National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and piracy  
Date and end date  4 August 2021 - 6 August 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Sri Lanka  
Brief description  Since December 2020, the WCO Secretariat has organized a series of national workshops with online training 
modules in the framework of its IPR, Health and Safety Programme. In this framework , 24 officers from 
Sri- Lanka Customs Administration benefited from a 3 -day virtual training workshop, organized in close 
collaboration with the WCO Asia Pacific Regional Office for Capacity Building.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooper ation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  The workshop organizers encouraged participants to build strong networks and relationships with other 
competent national authorities, the right holder community and among themselves to stay informed about the 
latest tr ends in IPR infringements. The participants appreciated the opportunity provided to them to not only 
improve their knowledge but also to share their experiences in this such crucial area.  
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2021/august/sri -lanka -customs -hosts -a-three -day-national-
workshop -on-combating -counterfeiting -and-piracy.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WCO/1  
 
- 14 - Name of programme or project  National Workshop on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy  
Date and end date  21 February 2022 - 23 February 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Iran 
Brief description  From 21 to 23 February 2022, in collaboration with right holders ' representatives, the WCO held a three -day 
Workshop for the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) on Combating Counterfeiting and 
Piracy. The Workshop received financial support from Japan Customs. The Workshop was aimed at improving 
Customs officers ' knowledge of border enforcement in the IPR domain, including laws, regulations and risk 
management. Over 60 customs officials participated in the event.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  Participants were trained to improve effective Customs controls by applying risk management techniques, 
identifying risk indicators and focusing on appropriate targeting and selection of suspicious air 
cargoes/shipments, and performing various types  of exercises.  
Website for further information  http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2022/april/ wco-holds -in-person -workshop -on-combating -
counterfeiting -and-piracy -for-iran-customs.aspx  
Contact point for further information  IPR.Team@wcoomd.org  
 
 
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