During the period April 1-3 2008, five senior officials from the Macedonian Customs Administration visited the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration.  The visit took place within the framework of the twinning arrangement between the Dutch and Macedonian Customs funded by the Netherlands Embassy. The purpose of the study visit was to acquire more knowledge about the handling of the non-tariff measures within the customs organisation in the Netherlands.  During the visit the Macedonian officials were briefed about the implementation of the non-tariff measures with special emphasis on cultural goods, exports of strategic goods, dual use goods and technologies, tobacco and alcohol products, IPR and piracy and medicines. Dutch colleagues explained the ways of inter-departmental cooperation and organized a visit to the Port of Rotterdam where the Macedonian Customs officers could see how the fixed container scan was operating and the non-tariff measures on import, export and transit of goods implemented.

The gained knowledge and experience will be transferred to the Macedonian Customs Administration in the following months, especially with the expert training on Modelling Contracts for co-operation between the Macedonian Customs Administration and other government institutions and additional training for the Co-ordinative body on IPR for anti-piracy."