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''

FG Moves to ensure EU Lifts Suspension on Brown Beans Exportation

The Federal Government has begun to put in place measures to ensure that the European Union (EU) lift the suspension placed on beans exportation from Nigeria.

The Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) said it organized a workshop for beans farmers, extension workers and other stakeholders to educate them on best practices to meet export standards‎. 

EU Denies Ban on Agricultural Products

The European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has refuted reports that the EU has banned the import of agricultural products from Nigeria. 

It however noted that the import suspension measure, which has been misconstrued, affected only dried beans. The Head of Trade and Economic Section of the EU delegation to Nigeria, Mr. Filipino Amato, made this clarification in an email to THISDAY on Tuesday, wherein he added that some agricultural products had been rejected at the EU borders due to high level of pesticides which is dangerous for human health.

Brown Beans Suspension by The European Union (EU) Ccommission

Recently, the European Union (EU) suspended the export of some of the Nigerian agricultural products into the members’ countries.

The ban exposes the loopholes in our regulatory mechanisms and government’s failure to equip the relevant body certifying the nation’s agro products for exports amidst porous borders exploited by smugglers. One of the rejected products that have been in the news in recent times is the nation’s dried brown beans suspended till June 30, 2016.