Green customs is an initiative supported by WCO, Interpol, CITES, the Basel Convention, UNEP DTIE's OzonAction Programme, the Ozone Secretariat, UNEP DEC and UNEP DEPI, to offer integrated training to customs authorities to counter illegal trade and environmental crime.

UNEP has developed a work plan for the training of customs authorities in consultation with WCO, Interpol and the Convention Secretariats of the above MEAs. WCO and Interpol give overarching support to MEA activities through providing technical assistance, national customs authority contacts, commodity specific Harmonised customs Codes, information exchange and investigative support to track environmental crime.

EIA participated in the first major UNEP-organised Green Customs training workshop in the Philippines for customs and other officials in February 2003 and the Workshop on Trade and Licensing Mechanisms in Countries with Economies in Transition, Hungary, May 2004 which also included sessions on green customs training. EIA has provided materials and expertise to assist UNEP in setting up this initiative.