Latest news with #WCO
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's customs authority launches AI-driven risk analysis project
The Customs and Indirect Tax Administration (ADII) recently announced the launch of a project, in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), aimed at integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into customs risk analysis and management processes. Aligned with ADII's strategic plan through 2028, this initiative focuses on targeting and predictive analysis as part of an advanced digitalization effort to enhance customs control efficiency and facilitate lawful trade, according to an official statement. At the project's launch ceremony, presided over by ADII Director General Abdellatif Amrani, participants discussed key strategic issues related to the use of big data, AI, and machine learning in customs risk management. They also reviewed ongoing digital transformation projects led by ADII and explored how these efforts will be consolidated within the new initiative. In this context, a first technical mission led by international experts accredited by the WCO took place at ADII headquarters from May 19 to 23. This mission assessed current progress in automated data processing and risk targeting, laying the groundwork for a structured action plan to guide the project's next phases. The ADII welcomed this trilateral cooperation, viewing it as recognition of its commitment to building an intelligent, proactive, and forward-looking customs system, the statement emphasized. The launch event was notably attended by the Swiss Ambassador to Morocco, Valentin Zellweger, along with senior officials from the WCO and ADII.
Scoop
5 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Land And Freshwater Plan Change Refocused
Press Release – Tasman District Council A separate plan change PC87 will address priority issues for land activities in Tasman, targeting recontouring and contaminated soil management. Ongoing delays and uncertainty with national freshwater regulation have been challenging for the Council and a decision was made on 9 May to pause the Land and Freshwater Plan Change (PC84) until clear Government direction and new legislation is received. However, Council has obligations under the Water Conservation Order (WCO) for Te Waikoropupū Springs and aquifer, as well as other priority issues to address that cannot wait. As a result, PC84 will be refocused on freshwater protections to support the WCO. This change will put in place policy and rules to manage water and land use activities, and their associated discharges, in the recharge area for the Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer to help protect the flows and water quality at the Springs. It will also create a nutrient management framework for farming and forestry in the recharge area to help achieve nitrate reduction at the Springs. A separate plan change PC87 will address priority issues for land activities in Tasman, targeting recontouring and contaminated soil management. We are working to get both plan changes notified this year before the Local Government elections to avoid further delay. Once the plan changes are notified, community members will have the chance to share their views and participate in the process by making formal submissions. Further information on the WCO and workstreams to support protection of the Springs is available on Council's website, as well as further information on the PC84 and PC87 processes.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Land And Freshwater Plan Change Refocused
Ongoing delays and uncertainty with national freshwater regulation have been challenging for the Council and a decision was made on 9 May to pause the Land and Freshwater Plan Change (PC84) until clear Government direction and new legislation is received. However, Council has obligations under the Water Conservation Order (WCO) for Te Waikoropupū Springs and aquifer, as well as other priority issues to address that cannot wait. As a result, PC84 will be refocused on freshwater protections to support the WCO. This change will put in place policy and rules to manage water and land use activities, and their associated discharges, in the recharge area for the Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer to help protect the flows and water quality at the Springs. It will also create a nutrient management framework for farming and forestry in the recharge area to help achieve nitrate reduction at the Springs. A separate plan change PC87 will address priority issues for land activities in Tasman, targeting recontouring and contaminated soil management. We are working to get both plan changes notified this year before the Local Government elections to avoid further delay. Once the plan changes are notified, community members will have the chance to share their views and participate in the process by making formal submissions. Further information on the WCO and workstreams to support protection of the Springs is available on Council's website, as well as further information on the PC84 and PC87 processes.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CooperVision to Host 5th Asia-Pacific Myopia Management Symposium (APMMS) Alongside Events in the Region
APMMS 2025 is held in partnership with The Hong Kong Association Private Practice Optometrists and The Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists and supported by The World Council of Optometry and The World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. This year's symposium and surrounding events will focus on elevating paediatric myopia management across the region. SINGAPORE, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global leader in myopia management[1], CooperVision, is proud to announce its 5th edition of the Asia-Pacific Myopia Management Symposium (APMMS). Themed "Myopia Control in Children: Meeting the Challenge Together", this year's regional event is held with the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS), World Council of Optometry (WCO), The Hong Kong Association Private Practice Optometrists (HKAPPO) and The Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists (HKSPO). Taking place at Hong Kong's Ocean Park Marriot Hotel on 1 June 2025, APMMS brings together a global mix of eye care professionals, researchers and industry leaders to foster collaboration. This allows for regional experts to share crucial knowledge, upskill and build consensus on effective contact lens strategies for myopia control. Presented via an impactful half-day program, APMMS 2025 looks to welcome 100 in-person attendees and many more online as virtual participants. The event will feature global expert speakers and delve into the latest myopia management trends that explore the need to implement standards of care and guidelines when tackling myopia. It will also explore emerging frameworks and present insights from recent regional surveys, complemented by expert panel discussions and case-based learning sessions. This collaborative initiative fosters a unified approach that enhances clinical efficacy and consistency in myopia management throughout the Asia-Pacific region through upskilling regional eye care professionals. Key areas addressed by this collaborative work include sharing proposed best practices for patient treatment, lens fitting, monitoring schedules, and assessing treatment outcomes. Expanding beyond its flagship symposium in Hong Kong, this year's APMMS will also be introducing localised events – APMMS Regional Connect Country Editions. Held in Taiwan region (24-25 May), Korea (28 May), China (3 June) and Singapore (4 June), these sessions look to support eye care professionals in obtaining the latest local insights on childhood myopia management. Shila Gupta, Myopia Management General Manager of CooperVision Asia Pacific said, "APAC is one of the most prevalent regions for myopia, with it being present in over 80% of young adults in some countries. APMMS 2025 is dedicated to spotlighting this growing crisis and the urgency in promoting early intervention informed by evolving, evidence-based approaches as a standard of care. By complimenting APMMS with in-depth surrounding events, we hope to build a wider ecosystem that unites the foremost experts in the field to collaborate and build a strong future for paediatric eye health across the region." An additional closed-door luminary event will also take place on 31 May 2025. This exclusive session seeks to arm eye care professionals with the knowledge and skills to establish and contribute to the development of must-needed guidelines for myopia management in their associations. "While myopia is a globally prevalent health challenge, it is being felt most strongly in the Asia-Pacific region," said Dr. Ken K Nischal, Founder and Codirector of WSPOS. "Events like APMMS provide a platform for professionals to share crucial knowledge and emerging best practices to better tackle this growing epidemic." The symposium will be hosted at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel from 9:00AM to 2:00PM Hong Kong Time, offering both in-person and virtual attendance options. CooperVision invites eye care professionals, researchers, and professional associations to collaborate with peers and share their knowledge and expertise in establishing myopia management as a standard in eye care. Dr. Sandra Block, President of WCO shared, "The increase in the prevalence of myopia in this region as well as globally is alarming. Research has emerged and continues to be published that provides tools to successfully manage myopia. Success in myopia control will require everyone to work together to ensure global access and success. Having multiple events to cover country-specific challenges and share advancements in collaborative guideline development are necessary for us to better understand myopia as a condition." APMMS 2025 will be hosted at the following time and venue: APMMS 2025 Register at to secure yourself a spot online to virtually attend APMMS 2025 and be part of the movement in elevating eye health across Asia-Pacific. About CooperVision CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (Nasdaq:COO), is one of the world's leading manufacturers of contact lenses. The company produces a full array of daily disposable, two-week and monthly soft contact lenses that feature advanced materials and optics, and premium rigid gas permeable lenses for orthokeratology and scleral designs. CooperVision has a strong heritage of addressing the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia, childhood Myopia, and highly irregular corneas; and offers the most complete portfolio of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers. For more information, visit About CooperCompanies CooperCompanies (Nasdaq: COO) is a leading global medical device company focused on helping people experience life's beautiful moments through its two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision is a trusted leader in the contact lens industry, helping to improve the way people see each day. CooperSurgical is a leading fertility and women's healthcare company dedicated to putting time on the side of women, babies, and families at the healthcare moments that matter most. Headquartered in San Ramon, CA, CooperCompanies has a workforce of more than 16,000, sells products in over 130 countries, and positively impacts over fifty million lives each year. For more information, please visit [1] CVI data on file View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CooperVision Sign in to access your portfolio
Daily Express
24-04-2025
- Daily Express
Smuggled fags threaten our security
Published on: Thursday, April 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Apr 24, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Kota Kinabalu: While a legal pack of cigarettes in Malaysia costs at least RM12, contraband smokes can go for as low as RM4. But that discount comes at a cost far beyond revenue loss. In Sabah, the illicit cigarette trade is more than an economic problem, it's helping fund terrorism in the Sulu archipelago. The 2023 Global Adult Tobacco Survey ranked Sabah as the third-highest smoking state in Malaysia, with 25 percent of its population identified as active smokers. Compounded by poverty, cheap illicit tobacco has become the default choice for many. But the cost isn't just public health, it's national security. Illicit cigarettes entering Sabah typically arrive via Indonesia's Nunukan and Tarakan, before crossing into the southern Philippines, particularly the Sulu islands. According to trade flow data analyzed by ApiraSol, although transactions appear separated in official systems, the products are part of a seamless underground network. In waters 12 nautical miles off Sabah's coast, undocumented boats flying local flags continue moving contraband under the radar. Intelligence reports suggest proceeds from these smuggled cigarettes are directly funneled into terror-linked networks still active in Sulu. The broader ASEAN region has inadvertently become fertile ground for the illicit cigarette trade, thanks to regulatory and enforcement main cause is a lack of enforcement in agreements. While regional and international frameworks including the WTO, WCO, and various Free Trade Agreements call for cooperation, they offer little in terms of legal accountability or enforcement mechanisms. Then there are transit loopholes. Cigarettes are often exported with declarations made to trading intermediaries, not the actual consumer market. The result? Export volumes don't match import records. That means zero import duties, zero excise taxes, and total opacity. Regulations across ASEAN often do not permit customs inspections of transshipment goods, even if they're suspected of being illicit. This makes tracking and stopping smuggled cigarettes virtually impossible. This is a weak transit inspection system. It sabotages the economy. Globally, illicit tobacco contributes to a staggering $2.2 trillion in annual losses, according to Within ASEAN, Malaysia is both a transit and destination country, with an estimated $29 million worth of illicit cigarette imports coming from Vietnam alone. Philip Morris International Head of Illicit Trade Prevention Asia Pacific, Rodney Schaddee Van Dooren noted that over 500 billion sticks of illicit cigarettes circulate worldwide. He emphasized that 'illicit whites' — fake brands or unregistered versions of popular cigarettes — make up 50 percent of the global issue. These products are specifically manufactured to be smuggled, and many originate from China. 'These are not counterfeit in the traditional sense. They're made legally but designed to evade the laws of any country they enter. 'They carry no local compliance labels and never pay a cent in tax,' he told a press conference after a session in Buriram, Thailand recently. Liyana Othman, Advocacy Director at EU-ASEAN Business Council said governments are simply not doing enough as experts argue ASEAN leaders have yet to demonstrate the political will to fight illicit trade. 'Detection technology is outdated, bribery remains rampant, and digital platforms now offer illegal cigarettes directly to consumers. 'There's an inflection point now. Without harmonized regulations and serious cross-border cooperation, this will get worse,' she said. Recommendations include whitelisting approved manufacturers and exporters, ensuring all exported products comply with destination market regulations and allowing inspections of suspicious goods even during transit. She said a call was made to revive Portcullis 2021, an ASEAN-based initiative to combat tobacco-related crimes, and to include India and the UAE in future harmonization efforts. However, the battle doesn't end with cigarettes. In the vaping sector, lack of regulation is pushing users to unregistered, potentially dangerous products. Rodney argued that prohibition isn't the solution but clear, enforced regulation is. 'Smokers want a safer alternative. We're happy to pay taxes. But right now, we're not part of the solution because the illegal market is thriving,' he said. According to an Empty Pack Surveys industry study, Malaysia has a 57pc illicit rate with USD 935 in revenue loss . The 2023 report said that at least $28,575,343 USD worth were from Vietnam.
