UNEP implements the training sub-component for customs officers under the project “HCFC phase-out management plan (stage I) for Turkey” (HPMP Turkey) which was approved at 68th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund. The training component is a very important part of the HPMP for enforcement of the national regulations as a strict control of imports of Ozone Depleting Substance (ODSs) at the borders that enables the country to comply with Montreal Protocol provisions.

The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization of Turkey and UNEP are proposing to launch the National Training programme for Customs Officers in February of 2015 with the overall goal to assist enforcement officers to comply with Montreal Protocol provisions. Initially, the Training of Trainers workshop will be organized in order to make the participants familiar with the methodology of dealing with the issues at the training workshops they will be supposed to conduct in the future in their capacity as trainers. The Training of Trainers will be held in Istanbul on 25-27 February of 2015 through assistance of the policy expert Dr Janusz Kozakiewicz from Poland. It will be followed by the training workshop for other customs and enforcement officers in Izmir on 2-3 March of 2015 which to be run by trained trainers from Istanbul workshop.

The main result will be enhanced capacity of customs and other relevant enforcement personnel to monitor and facilitate legal trade and to detect and prevent illegal trade in ODSs covered by the Montreal Protocol. The training will also foster cooperation between customs and other relevant agencies responsible for control and monitoring of ODSs in Turkey.

More information: mikheil.tushishvili@unep.org