International Customs Day

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.