The Dominican Customs is committed to Green

1. . The Dominican Customs is committed to Green Ing. Juan L. Castillo P. Gerencia de Planificación y Estudios Económicos Sub-Dirección Técnica Dirección General de Aduanas de la República Dominicana

2. Examples of natural disasters and environmental that have happened between 2009 and 2010

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4. What does the Dominican Customs to be considered a Green Customs

5. The Dominican Customs is determined to become a Green Customs and this will happen only to the extent that they fulfill the commitments required by the Environmental Conventions. This initiative is being coordinated by the World Customs Organization (WCO), the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), and has the participation of various secretariats of environmental agreements such as: The Montreal Protocol, The Stockholm Convention, Rotterdam, Basel, CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The regulations set by the General Secretariats of Environmental Conventions (MEAs) are mandatory and the Directorate General of Customs of the Dominican Republic as a party signatory to them, is obliged to abide by these initiatives. Dominican Customs is defining a set of policies, designed to comply with these MEAs. This makes it more likely the establishment, development and achievement of goals and objectives, which translates into competitive advantage by maximizing the use of comparative advantages. .

6. The establishment of controls is of vital importance and gives the institution a new scheme of work, because the Environmental Protection and Human Health is today a global need and not just local. In addition, the DGA as an entry and exit of all foreign trade is and will be largely responsible for everything that might happen in the Dominican Republic for a good or poor management of foreign trade. The environmental policy of the Customs of the Dominican Republic has been characterized by strongly addressing the global challenges that exist in this area back into the international context and develop active participation in the global agenda for sustainable development. The DGA has placed special emphasis on constructive join the network of international environmental agreements, in order to be considered a Green Customs and achieve sustainable development. .

7. Dominican Customs Missions: To collect duties and taxes (Office Mission) Support for foreign trade (Economic Mission) Protect the homeland, by combating pests that weaken our society (drugs, restricted and banned chemicals, living modified organisms, industrial piracy, environment, etc.) (Social Mission). Customs officials are the first line of defense of the country against the illegal trade. They are the first link in compliance with the "chain of execution", and without adequate capacity to prevent or detect the illegal trade, the rest of the chain will be much less effective. Training is a key component in the execution of the work of our staff

8. . Our corporate mission states: Facilitate and control foreign trade of the Dominican Republic with the rest of the world, on grounds of efficiency and transparency of customs procedures, in line with best international practice of customs administration, control of tax evasion and illegal trade strengthening national security and the protection of health and the environment.

9. A bit of history and as establish control

10. Since 1999, the Customs Administration has been working with the Montreal Protocol. Initially, supplying the statistics of imports of the products contained in the Protocol and monitoring as well as international trade in these substances. To 2007, starts to give support to the Rotterdam Convention and the DGA becomes designated national authority for this Convention. At beginning of year 2008, joined the Stockholm Convention and establishing synergy institutional intermediate between the ministries of agriculture, the environment, public health and the General Customs Directorate. For the month of September in the official presentation of the Lic. Rafael Camilo, as new Director of Customs, clear commitment to the institution to environmental agreements and the need to convert the DGA in a Green Customs.

11. 1St Regional Workshop on the Green Customs Initiative, held in Santo Domingo, under the auspices of the United Nations for the Environment (UNEP), involving countries in the region is provided in the month of November 2009. In January 2010, established the prohibition to import products between subheadings 2903.41 to 2903.45, both inclusive; they are called (CloroFluoroCarbon), products such as gas coolants CFCs, halons, and other CFCs in the Montreal Protocol to be very harmful substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The second event on the Green Customs Initiative, with the participation of countries such as was held in Dominican Republic in Prof. Juan Bosch, WCO training Centre in July: The Caribbean Islands, Central American Countries and Dominican Republic (such as host country). This workshop was aimed at training and awareness of the Customs Officers, the implementation and responsibility for the different environmental media agreements (MEAs).

12. In the month of August, was presented to staff headquarters of the DGA, The Customs bet by the Green paper whose purpose is to inform employees of the General Customs Directorate, which activities being done by the DGA for the environment and human health. In October, held the workshop on the use of equipment detectors gas coolants and delivered from these teams to the Customs Authorities where there is a higher level of imports of these products. Statistically determined which were those administrations by the quantity imported.. Also delivered talks about the Rotterdam Convention, Stockholm, Basel and Saicm; as a way for the flow, which are our first line of Defense, to know more about these MEAs and aware when have to check one of these products.

13. This workshop aimed to improve the capacity of customs officers, as well as other auxiliary personnel staff to supervise and facilitate legitimate trade of substances or species which are under the environmental agreements and have some kind of restriction or control for import and/or export. • The training of such personnel will be constant and progressive; Therefore training for each of these environmental agreements. • The month of October 2010, only being implemented control by the DGA to the Montreal Protocol, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention. Already in December of that year, the Ministry of Environment included the DGA in the following MEAs: • Basel • CITES • Convention on Chemical Weapons • Convention on Biological Diversity.

14. These actions have achieved through awareness in all relevant international agreements, as well as the provision of assistance and tools for the detection of these chemicals and their waste. Green Customs has been designed to complement and enhance existing in respective agreements customs training efforts. Is currently working on the creation of an administrative structure to monitor and control the provisions of environmental agreements. This check will be conducted through the computer system and will also face, for verifying the ports of personnel trained to detect harmful substances into the environment and human health.

15. Some measures implemented in the Custom: • Enabling specific entry administrations to focus on the control. • Directed staff operating regular trainings. • Provide import statistics to the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture. • Exchanging information between customs, environment and agriculture. • Establishing tariff classification criteria. • Defining criteria for risk based on profiles of importers. • A system of licensing in the customs system continue to data environment and agriculture. • Establishing sanctions for infringements. • Combat smuggling in coordination with the Control agencies, such as the armed forces. • Participation of the highest authorities. • Other measures to take.

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17. We thank both the United Nations Environment Programme, as the Green Customs Initiative and the World Customs Organization for all the support given to the Dominican Customs to help her be considered a GREEN CUSTOMS. Thanksforyourattention