APIA, Samoa – Today marks the commencement of the Regional Workshop on Harmonised System (HS) in Apia, Samoa. The workshop, jointly organised by the PACER Plus Implementation Unit and the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) under the European Union funded Improving...
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Press Release
Customs administrations role in the region more critical than ever
PR 02/22 Suva, Fiji, January 26, 2022– Today, we celebrate and pay tribute to the work of Customs officers as front-liners keeping our borders safe, as critical market players enabling the free flow of goods in the region and as revenue collectors to allow...
PR 01/22 NEW GOODS CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IN EFFECT
Suva, Fiji, January 18, 2022– The Pacific Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (PACHS) 2022 is now in effect as of January 1, 2022. PACHS 2022 is adapted from the Harmonized tariff classification System (HS) used by 200 economies across the globe and...
PR 39/21 Millions of Pacific Islanders at Risk of Counterfeit Items
Suva, Fiji, November 18, 2021- Tonga’s Ministry of Revenue and Customs CEO, Kelemete Vahe has called for more regional commitment towards the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to protect millions of Pacific Islanders from receiving counterfeit items,...
PR 38/21 Tanneau’s vision for French Polynesia
Suva, Fiji, November 16, 2021- In the last two years, Jean-François Tanneau has been the head of French Polynesia Customs. With his sailing background and having managed coast guard services in France, being sent to the idyllic tropical paradise of French Polynesia...
PR 37/21 Preparing Customs administrations for natural disasters response
Suva, Fiji, 1 November 2021- Customs administrations and border agencies in the region shared experiences and learned best practices on how to respond better to natural disasters and infectious diseases through a four-day workshop facilitated by the World Customs...
PR 36/21 Sutton’s Modernisation Plans for Solomon Islands
Suva, Fiji, November 1- Jim Sutton is the head of Solomon Islands Customs and is one of the most experienced Customs officers in the region with 45 years of Customs work experience in Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Liberia, Ghana, Angola, India, Vietnam, East...
PR 35/21 Chief Commissioner Towe outlines plans for PNG Customs Service
Suva, Fiji, October 28, 2021- It’s almost a year since Mr. David Towe was appointed as the Chief Commissioner of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Customs Service. Mr. Towe, a holder of a master’s degree in International Law and Customs Administration, started his professional...
PR 34/21 OCO and WHO Stand Against Illicit Trade of Tobacco
Suva, Fiji, October 28, 2021- A joint operation by the Oceania Customs Organisation and the World Health Organization codenamed “Operation EXIT” is expected to provide insights into how the region can combat the illicit trade of tobacco, which continues to be a major...
PR 33/21 Christine Stevenson leads New Zealand Customs Service through COVID-19
Suva, Fiji, October 22 October 2021- Christine Stevenson is the Comptroller and Chief Executive of New Zealand Customs Service (NZ Customs), which is the country’s oldest government department. Ms. Stevenson has had a long career in the public sector and has worked...