More Nigerian agricultural produce will be acceptable to the EU - NAQS

The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) on Thursday announced new measures to ensure that more of Nigeria’s agricultural produce meet the European Union(EU)’s standards.

Mr Christopher Onukwuba, NAQS’s Head, Department of Collaboration, Planning and Partnership, made this known in Lagos. He said that the EU’s recent extension of its ban on Nigerian beans had called for the need for the NAQS and other product regulatory agencies to redouble their efforts.

''The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service is currently doing a lot to make more Nigerian agricultural produce acceptable to the European countries. With the EU’s extension of its ban on Nigerian beans, Nigerian products regulatory agencies are prepared to ensure that agricultural produce from Nigeria meets the required EU standards''

Aquatic Resources Quarantine

The aquatic resources arm of NAQS applies sanitary measures to prevent the entry of foreign exotic pests, pathogens and diseases of aquatic resources through international boundaries or by travelers while also preventing their dissemination across, through export trade, by adhering to international standards and protocols under WTO/OIE/SPS agreements through these functions.

Animal Quarantine Department

The veterinary arm of NAQS performs the following quarantine services:

• Health Inspection of export and import if live animals including dogs, cattle, cats, horses, sheep, goats, turkey, poulets/old chicks, eggs, parent stock and pet birds.
• Verification of import and export permits issued by the office of the Director, Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services for the importation/exportation of animals and their products.
• Authentication of international veterinary certificate accompanying imported animals and their products (e.g tallow, horn and hooves, blood meal, hatchable eggs, milk etc.)
• Conduct of surveillance to determine the presence of contagious animals and zoonotic diseases.