THE Oceania Customs Organisation Secretariat has been working over the past four weeks with experts to develop modern and enabling Customs law for the Federated States of Micronesia.
According to a statement, the work was undertaken with the support of the Trade Facilitation in Customs Co-operation Project administered by OCO with funding provided by the European Union.
The OCO Secretariat was given the mandate through the 10th EDF program to enhance the Pacific African Caribbean Pacific nations' Customs laws as one of its 27 activities to be updated, modernised, reformed and aligned with international recognised best practices.
The enhancements of FSM's Customs legislation will inevitably lead to the country having sufficient and modern Customs laws to prosecute illegal traffickers and non-compliance traders.
Experts drafting the law include FSM assistant Attorney General Johnson Asher, FSM's assistant secretary of Customs Administration John Ken and OCO's project legal drafter Meiapo Fa'asau.
Relatively, this legislative review is in compliance with international standards such as those promoted by the World Customs Organisation and the World Trade Organisation and also includes mechanisms for Customs international best practice.
The review is based on the Regional Model Customs Law developed jointly by OCO and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Last month, OCO completed a similar exercise with officers from Palau and OCO is proud to announce the successful completion of another four-week legislative reform involving the FSM.