In an effort to put an end to rejection of food exports from Nigeria to Europe and the United States, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called for the collaboration of the various trade groups in the export business.
According to the agency, it is to ensure that major stakeholders in the export trade at the nation’s ports align with the appropriate electronic channel to obtain export certification.
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting with the theme, ‘The role of Freight Consolidator in the Export of NAFDAC Regulated Products’, stated that aligning with NAFDAC’s guidelines and certification by appropriate regulatory channels for exports is crucial to stop the losses to Nigeria and the exporters.
While speaking through the Head, Export Division, Ports Inspection Directorate of NAFDAC, Mrs Oluwaseyi Sanwo-Olu, Adeyeye said NAFDAC had also stepped up its processes to ensure that all its regulated products meant for exports meet acceptable standards for national and international markets, particularly the specifications of the country of destination.
In a press release signed by Sayo Akintola, the agency’s resident media consultant, Professor Adeyeye called on stakeholders in export of food products regulated by the agency to complement its regulatory policies geared towards safeguarding exportation procedures and ensuring zero rejection of food product exports from Nigeria.
She said the regulatory policy of the agency is geared towards the protection of consumers and promotion of public health in order to ensure that regulated products are of good quality, safe, efficacious, wholesome and accepted in the global market.
She then urged them to use quality finished and raw materials for production of foods for export, as well as ensure that personnel handling the production processes are medically fit to avoid contamination.
In her words: “We expect that freight consolidators will be informed on the nature of the products they are handling and how to keep the products’ integrity intact and guide their clients (exporters) to always factor in time for processing of export certification in their timeline before planning the next exportation; comply with documentation requirements for NAFDAC regulated products before shipment and have a requisite understanding of quality, safety and standards of the regulated product or consignment they are handling.
“Also, is a good understanding of proper handling, use of approved packaging material, group-packaging of like products and understanding the implications of forwarding and exporting products without recourse to NAFDAC processes and procedures.”
