By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
To address the incidences of rejection of Nigeria’s food products Exports to the United Kingdom and the international market, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Development, NAFDAC, said it has adopted six steps to change the narratives.
The NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye at a meeting with the UK FSA between Nigeria and UK Trade and Investment meeting in London, made the move to change Nigeria’s food export narrative in the international market.
Adeyeye who was represented by
Dr. Abimbola Adegboye, Director, Ports Inspection Directorate and Head of Office of Trade and International Relations engaged the FSA on the unabated incidences of reject of Nigerian food products exported to the United Kingdom.
According to the NAFDAC DG, in a recent meeting with FSA, the agency is commencing on six regulatory-measure approaches to address the reject situation.
” These include immediate inclusion and implementation, of NAFDAC Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) and Laboratory testings (e.g., mycotoxin, pesticide residue, and heavy metals) certification for the regulated products – food, drug, and others by the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) as administered by the FGN appointed Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs).”
“Inclusion of NAFDAC in the CBN Export Proceed (NXP) form processing.”
“Engagement with the Comptroller General of Customs as the new administrator of the Nigeria Single Window Trade portal to facilitate this. Engagement with CBN (Trade and Exchange Division) and Federal Ministry of Finance (Home Finance). Strengthening in-country regulatory infrastructures on export, such as listed food products.”
“Development and introduction of NAFDAC Regulations on Export 2022, already hosted on NAFDAC website with e-copy sent to exporters, trade associations and professional bodies for their inputs and comments within the next 60 days that started from 11th October 2023.”
“NAFDAC Registration of all exporters of its Regulated Products in addition to the general registration by Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC).”
Continuations of awareness and sensitization meetings with the export trade operators to reviewed guidelines on export of NAFDAC regulated products using the NAFDAC website for compliance.
Collaboration with NAFDAC’s sister Agencies, and major trading partners on safety and quality of Nigerian exports, starting with UK and EU.
Evidence-based national monitoring of Pesticide Residues as part of continuous engagement with the UK FSA, and as a road map for the lifting of the ban on dried beans by the first quarter of 2024.
Continuous engagements with CBN, FMOF, NCS, NAQS and, externally, with the European Union (EU).
Adeyeye disclosed that these steps have started yielding positive results with EU reduction of Nigeria’s melon inspection from 100% to 50%.
In the interim, I implore all Nigerian exporters trading in NAFDAC regulated products to obtain necessary certifications for processing of their products, she advised.
These could be processed, semi-processed, food-destined for further processing or bulk food such as cocoa, sesame seed, groundnut, melon, or grains (e.g., beans, indigenous rice, etc.) tea materials, ogbonno and melon; drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, agrochemicals, beverages, fruit juices, and medical devices, the DG stated.
She disclosed her moves to engage key and strategic trading partners, such as the Trade Departments of the Nigerian Embassy and Nigerian High Commission to the UK, among others.
“Engagement with operators and regulators in the export trade facilitation such as ANCLA, Shippers Council, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, Central Bank of Nigeria, Standards Organization of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.”
Adeyeye noted some challenges confronting the Nigeria’s food export include the unwillingness of exporters to comply with minimal sanitary and phytosanitary measures required for exports to countries with stringent market access.
“Poor packaging, disregard for importation requirements of trading partners countries
Penchant for sourcing from open markets for exports without any form of minimal safety or quality specifications .”
Unwillingness to invest in pre-export activities that help to ensure sustainable export, among other things, she emphasized.
