Participants of the training course on Detection and Identification of Scheduled Chemicals
Customs officers from African States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) received training on the technical aspects of the scheduled chemicals transfer regime of the CWC at an OPCW training course held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 24 to 27 May 2016.
“Customs officers stand at the frontlines of non-proliferation of the chemical weapons,” said Mr. Nanga Yesse Zinzerdorf, Head of the National Authority of Côte d’Ivoire. “Given the importance that customs services have for effective national implementation of the CWC, capacity building exercises such as these equip customs officials with the necessary knowledge to control export and import of scheduled chemicals.”
Comprised of presentations, practical exercises and group discussions, the course provided training for customs officials on the detection and identification of scheduled chemicals. Participants also exchanged best practices in controlling trade in chemicals, and further discussed reporting practices for imports and exports.
The training also helped to reinforce sub-regional cooperation among customs services of participating countries.
Organised by the OPCW in cooperation with the National Authority of Côte d’Ivoire, the course was funded by the European Union. It was attended by 34 participants from 14 OPCW Member States, including Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Gambia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, and Sudan.For more details: