Maltese Ambassador Pierre Clive Agius had a meeting with the Secretary General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Kunio Mikuriya, to deposit the instrument of accession of Malta to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonisation of Customs Procedures (revised Kyoto Convention) with the World Customs Organisation.

The convention is recognised as a major trade facilitation instrument. Some of the revised convention’s key elements include the application of simplified customs procedures in a predictable and transparent environment, the maximum use of information technology, the utilisation of risk management, a strong partnership with the trade and other stakeholders, and a readily accessible system of appeals.

The convention entered into force on 3 February, 2006. It has 68 contracting parties to date, including all of the EU states.