On Tuesday, March 18, the delegation of Project 100 – COE CBRNe visited the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) at the Port of Civitavecchia as part of ongoing efforts to enhance front line biosafety and biosecurity measures across the South East and Eastern European (SEEE) region. The visit was organized under the Italian coordination between the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The visit commenced with a series of presentations by key officials:
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Dr. Pino Musolino, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Port System Authority of the Central Northern Tyrrhenian Sea (ports of Civitavecchia, Fiumicino, and Gaeta);
- Dr. Claudio Oliviero, Director of Customs Directorate
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Dr. Rosanna Lanuzza, Head of the Customs Regional Directorate for Lazio and Abruzzo;
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Dr. Silvia Amato, Head of Customs at Civitavecchia;
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Dr. Filippo Tommaso and Dr. Michele Sibio, Officers of the Italian Customs Central Office.
These experts provided insights into the role of the Customs Agency in ensuring CBRNe security, with a particular focus on biological threats and control procedures. The discussion highlighted the importance of upstream risk analysis through the centralized risk assessment system (Customs Control Circuit), which determines the level of risk associated with different types of goods and, consequently, the type of control to be performed. These controls include:
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Automated Controls (AC);
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Document Controls (DC);
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Physical Inspections (PI);
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Scanner Control (SC).
Additionally, in the field of product safety, customs verification activities—ranging from withholding goods from release to imposing compliance with regulatory requirements—are complemented by the intervention of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MISE) and, in specific cases, the chemical analysis activities of ADM’s laboratories or other specialized entities.
Practical Demonstrations in the Field
During the second part of the visit, the delegation moved to the port area, where participants were divided into three groups for hands-on operational activities. The groups had the opportunity to:
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Observe and test equipment used for scanning and CBRNe controls;
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Witness the operation of the mobile chemical laboratory, also equipped for biological inspections;
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Observe the mobile container scanner in action.
The highly skilled customs personnel provided detailed demonstrations and explanations, which were greatly appreciated by all Project 100 delegates.
Strengthening Regional Biosafety and Biosecurity Capacities
Project 100: Strengthening of Front Line Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures in South East and Eastern Europe, coordinated by the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU), aims to fortify biosafety and biosecurity capabilities in partner countries to minimize health, human, and economic risks resulting from biohazards at state borders and customs clearance zones.
The specific objectives of the project include:
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Developing and improving policies, guidelines, and protocols for managing biosafety and biosecurity threats at borders and customs clearance zones;
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Enhancing the technical capacity of partner institutions through the provision of appropriate equipment for training, exercises, and operational needs;
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Conducting national, transboundary, and regional practical training sessions and exercises to address front line biosafety and biosecurity threats;
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Establishing and strengthening national and regional networks of biosafety and biosecurity experts and agencies;
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Promoting the exchange of best practices in biosafety and biosecurity management, drawing from relevant EU institutional experience.
The visit to the Customs and Monopolies Agency at the Port of Civitavecchia represented a significant step in reinforcing collaboration between international agencies and the Italian customs authorities, fostering a stronger and more coordinated approach to biosafety and biosecurity across the region.
Participating countries in Project 100: Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine.
The insights gained during this visit will contribute to enhancing border security mechanisms, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and advancing cooperation among SEEE partner countries in tackling biosafety and biosecurity challenges
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