January 26 marks the celebration of International Customs Day (ICD) every year all across the world with the United Nations as the host.
Context
January 26 marks the celebration of International Customs Day (ICD) every year all across the world with the United Nations as the host.
History
- The inception of the ICD dates back to 1953.
- The Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) formally announced the observance of ICD on January 26 that year in an inaugural session held in Brussels, Belgium.
- It was attended by representatives from 17 European countries.
- CCC was renamed World Customs Organisation (WCO) in 1994.
- Now WCO comprises 182 member states from all parts of the world.
Theme
- This year, the theme chosen by WCO for ICD is ‘Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem’.
- In 2021, the theme was ‘Customs bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience’.
Significance
- The International Customs Day’s objective is to boost leadership, guidance, and support to customs administrations as WCO strongly opines that while borders divide, it is the ‘customs’ that establish a connection between countries.
- It is the agency in a country that is responsible for collecting tariffs, managing the flow of goods (including animals, hazardous materials) in and out of the country.
- In India, the Central Board of Excise & Customs manages all customs based on job roles and their duties.
- It is on this day that the WCO takes this opportunity to exhibit their activities and efforts involved in customs.
- ICD’s significance lies in the fact that it contributes significantly towards bringing about a sustainable future as it aids in meeting the economic, social, and environmental needs of the planet.
- It is the customs that ensure that world trade management is safe and protected.
