The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), alongside the Cocoa Processors Association of Nigeria (COPAN) and other key players in the food export sector, has pledged to collaborate to eliminate the rejection of processed and semi-processed cocoa products and other food exports from Nigeria.
This commitment was made during the NAFDAC Export Stakeholders’ Interactive Session in Lagos, which brought together representatives from COPAN, the Network of Practicing Non-oil Exporters of Nigeria (NPNEN), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) to discuss the draft NAFDAC export regulations for 2024.
NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement made in Abuja by Mr Sayo Akintola addressed the concerns raised by cocoa stakeholders regarding the draft regulations.
She emphasized that the agency’s goal is to facilitate trade and ensure that Nigerian food exports meet international standards, thereby preventing the rejection of these products at global entry points.
Prof. Adeyeye highlighted that regulations are critical legal instruments for ensuring compliance with standards in the manufacturing, importation, exportation, and sale of regulated products. She noted that under her leadership, NAFDAC has updated and gazetted 21 new regulations and that the export regulations are among those soon to be finalized.
“Often, our regulated products, which are exported without NAFDAC certification, fail at the entry borders, putting Nigeria at a disadvantage in international commerce,” Prof. Adeyeye stated.
She attributed this to years of poor oversight and lack of regulatory supervision, which have led to some Nigerian products being placed on the red list of importing nations.
To address these issues, NAFDAC is pursuing regulatory interventions both locally and internationally, aiming to ensure that Nigeria is not banned from exporting any type of food product. Prof. Adeyeye reassured stakeholders that the draft regulations posted on the agency’s website are open for feedback, emphasizing that they are not final but part of a transparent process to improve the quality and safety of Nigerian exports.
The session also featured contributions from other stakeholders. Dr. Olusola Obajimu, Director General of NACCIMA, praised the proposed regulations, emphasizing that they are focused on achieving global standards rather than revenue generation.
He assured NAFDAC of the stakeholders’ support in boosting Nigeria’s non-oil export revenue.
Similarly, Mr. Yusuf Isiaka, Managing Director of Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc and a representative of COPAN, expressed satisfaction with NAFDAC’s collaborative approach.
“We are very happy to see signs today that NAFDAC is committed to working with us. We just don’t want to lose business or relationships,” he remarked.
In conclusion, Prof. Adeyeye reiterated NAFDAC’s commitment to supporting exporters, noting that the agency would categorize cocoa producers into low, medium, and high-risk categories based on their compliance with regulatory requirements.
She assured participants that NAFDAC’s priority is to prevent the rejection of Nigerian products in international markets, thus safeguarding the nation’s reputation and boosting its export potential.
