NBCC calls for speedy passage of Food Safety bill

Worried by the repeated banning of some Nigerian agricultural produce from European countries, the Nigerian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) on Wednesday called for the speedy passage of Nigeria’s Food Safety Bill.

NBCC’s President, Mr Tunde Okoya, made the call in Lagos at the organisation’s Breakfast Meeting, saying it was imperative for the National Assembly to expedite action in the passage of the bill.

The theme of this month’s Breakfast Meeting is “How Europe and Nigeria Can Benefit from a Mutual Cooperation’’.

Okoya said: “The recent ban on beans from Nigeria coming to Europe should serve as a challenge for us to improve our processes in food safety.

“As stakeholders in the agricultural value chain, let us pressure the National Assembly for speedy passage of the Food Safety Bill.

“This bill will create a whole new industry in food packing and set safety standards that will create new professionals that will transform the nation’s whole agro-industry.”

According to him, the passage of the bill will transform the sector the same way the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control has transformed the nation’s pharmaceutical and food processing industry.

Okoya said that its passage would afford Nigerian agricultural produce to meet with global sanitary standards, as well as enhance its ability to compete favourably internationally.

Mr Filippo Amato, Head of Trade and Economic Section of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said Nigeria was not also qualified to export aquatic products to EU countries.

Amato, in a presentation entitled, “How to Increase Opportunities for Exporting Agribusiness products to the EU’’, said that Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda, Gambia and Mozambique were, however, qualified to export honey and aquatic products to EU countries.

“Nigeria is currently not authorised to export animal and aquatic products to EU countries, while Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda, Gambia and Mozambique are authorised to export either aquatic products or honey.

“It is important that Nigerian farmers understand the export requirements to European countries,” he said.

Mr Chris Onukwuba, Head of Department of Collaboration, Planning and Partnership at the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), said Nigeria was working hard at making her products meet EU standards.

Onukwuba announced plans by his organization to intensify proper production, packaging, storage, fumigation and transportation of Nigerian agricultural produce being exported to the EU and other countries.

“We should be working hard to be above the requirements of EU countries because they are really meticulous in their needs,” he said.