To enhance Nigeria’s non-oil export trade, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has forged a strategic partnership with key export stakeholders to tackle the persistent issue of Nigerian food export rejections.
The collaboration was announced in a statement by NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Mr. Olusayo Akintola, during a press briefing in Abuja. The agreement emerged from a recent NAFDAC Export Stakeholder’s Interactive Session, which involved discussions with the Cocoa Processors Association of Nigeria (COPAN) and the Network of Practicing Non-Oil Exporters of Nigeria (NPNEN). The session also saw participation from the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, addressed concerns raised by cocoa stakeholders regarding the draft cocoa regulations available on the NAFDAC website for public review. She emphasized that the session was designed to create a platform for discussing crucial trade facilitation issues and fostering a unified approach among the agency and stakeholders in the export value chain.
She highlighted that the goal of the meeting was to ensure a cohesive voice for the mutual benefit of Nigeria’s international trade. She explained that regulations serve as legal tools for maintaining standards and ensuring compliance across various sectors, including manufacturing, importation, exportation, distribution, and advertising.
The Director-General noted that NAFDAC has recently updated and gazetted 21 new regulations under her leadership, covering various aspects of the agency’s regulatory functions. Export regulations are among the many regulations being formalized into law.
Prof. Adeyeye expressed concern over the ongoing issue of Nigerian products failing at international borders due to lack of NAFDAC certification. She pointed out that some Nigerian products are already blacklisted by importing nations, a situation resulting from years of inadequate oversight and regulation of product quality and safety.
She emphasised NAFDAC’s commitment to pursuing regulatory interventions both locally and internationally to prevent a complete ban on Nigerian food exports. The purpose of these interventions is to ensure that Nigerian products meet international standards and avoid rejection in global markets.
“The focus of today’s engagement is to address these concerns, bridge knowledge gaps, and build the necessary collaborations to elevate our regulated product exports in international trade,” Prof. Adeyeye said.
The Director-General clarified that NAFDAC’s regulatory role is not a revenue-generating endeavor but a facilitative one, aimed at streamlining trade and ensuring compliance with international standards to prevent export rejections, particularly in the EU and the U.S.
She assured participants that registered export products would face fewer regulatory hurdles, with less frequent inspections for compliant companies.
The agency plans to begin its support with cocoa producers, categorizing them based on compliance and risk levels to provide targeted assistance.
Dr. Olusola Obajimu, Director-General of NACCIMA, endorsed the proposed regulations, emphasizing their role in achieving global standards and boosting Nigeria’s export potential. He pledged support from stakeholders to enhance the country’s foreign exchange revenue through effective non-oil export trade in collaboration with NAFDAC.
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