International Customs Day – January 26, 2025

History of International Customs Day

Before we get into its history, let’s understand what customs are. Every country has a customs authority responsible for collecting tariffs and overseeing the import and export of goods. Every country has its own laws regarding what goods you can bring into the country and what you can send out. All of this falls under the jurisdiction of the customs authority. The World Customs Organization (W.C.O.) is an intergovernmental organization that oversees the different customs administrations related to international trade.

In 1948, the Committee for European Economic Cooperation formed a study group called the European Customs Union Study Group (E.C.U.S.G.) to research the possibility of creating one or more inter-European customs unions. This led to the formation of the Customs Cooperation Council (C.C.C.) in 1952 to improve the efficiency of customs administrations worldwide. On January 26, 1953, the inaugural session of the C.C.C. took place, and 17 founding members participated. The organization created International Customs Day in 1983. After many decades of growth and expansion outside Europe, the C.C.C. became a global organization and was renamed the W.C.O. in 1994. The headquarters of the W.C.O. is in Brussels, Belgium.

Since its conception, the W.C.O. has helped set standards for efficient custom administration worldwide. They have helped develop and implement various customs systems and procedures that guarantee our security. They have also developed and subsequently managed the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, an international standard classification system for various commodities. The organization has also helped administer the World Trade Organization’s policies while ensuring safe and secure international trade across global societies, helping legitimize international trade.