Study Guide

1.       Green corridors and sustainable transport

Some countries run green corridors to speed the clearance of sustainable exports — such as certified organic products, biofuels, and sustainably sourced timber — and to promote lower-emission transport.

•          India’s Green corridor facilitates the export of organic products and the import of biorefinery goods, supporting green mobility. The concept of a green customs corridor in India generally refers to streamlined procedures for environmentally friendly goods, including simplified clearance, promotion of green fuels in shipping, and legal trade in sensitive items.
•          Brazil’s Green corridor is similarly focused on maritime transport, aiming to enhance logistics efficiency and sustainability. These efforts promote sustainable technologies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve customs processing for green goods.
•          Singapore – Green Lane for Low‑Emission Maritime Fuels: Singapore has launched a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor with ports such as Rotterdam and Los Angeles. Customs support:

o   Clearance of sustainable marine fuels

o   Verification of fuel certification

o   Digital documentation to reduce emissions

2.       Wildlife and biodiversity protection

•          Colombia operates dedicated Green Customs units targeting ozone-depleting substances, toxic chemicals, hazardous waste, and illegal trade in fauna, flora, and living modified organisms.
•          Kenya uses inter-agency task forces to stop trade in ivory, rhino horn, and live endangered species, with the Kenya Wildlife Service working alongside customs at airports and seaports.
•          New Zealand integrates biosecurity and environmental screening at the border to manage invasive species and banned substances.

3.       Waste, chemicals, and hazardous goods

·         Norway uses artificial intelligence and container scanning to detect illegal waste exports. Norwegian Customs has collaborated with environmental authorities to build a digital system that automatically flags suspicious containers.

·         China strengthened controls on plastic waste imports, supporting its broader "National Sword" campaign to stop illegal and low-quality waste imports.

·         Canada – Zero plastic Waste Initiative (Customs Enforcement): Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) supports enforcement of bans on Single‑use plastics, non‑compliant plastic waste imports, Hazardous waste shipments.

·         Japan – Green Customs for Fluorinated Gases (F‑gases): Japan has strengthened border controls on fluorinated greenhouse gases under its Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons, including Import licensing, Customs verification and Seizure of illegal refrigerants.

4.       Sustainable commodities and timber

•          Australia – Illegal Timber Enforcement (ILE): Australia’s Illegal Logging Prohibition Act is enforced at the border by Customs, requiring importers to demonstrate due diligence for timber products. This is a major Green Customs example involving Supply chain documentation, Risk based profiling and Seizure of non-compliant timber.