By ebosele@hotmail.com. –
The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has received a delegation from the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria to strengthen cooperation on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) compliance and improve market access for Nigerian agricultural products in the European market.
The delegation was led by Mr. Martijn Boelen, Head of the Trade and Economics Section of the EU Delegation, alongside Mr. Ibi Ikpoki, Economic Adviser.
Boelen, who recently assumed office, said NAQS was the first government agency he visited, underscoring the Service’s important role in agricultural trade facilitation and Nigeria-EU trade relations.
The Comptroller General of NAQS briefed the delegation on the Service’s mandate and ongoing efforts to strengthen export certification, including the development of Export Certification Value Chain frameworks and Standard Operating Procedures for key agricultural commodities.
The meeting focused on SPS challenges affecting Nigerian agricultural exports to the EU, particularly the suspension of Nigerian cowpea and recurring interceptions of sesame consignments, which have been linked mainly to Salmonella contamination.
NAQS outlined measures being implemented and proposed to address the challenges, including enhanced traceability, inspection, sampling, testing and controls across the production, aggregation, storage, processing and export certification stages.
The EU delegation expressed its commitment to reviewing proposals submitted by NAQS to facilitate further technical engagement with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE).
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration to address SPS barriers, strengthen compliance and expand access for Nigerian agricultural products to the European market.
The engagement is expected to support efforts to improve the quality and safety of Nigeria’s agricultural exports while facilitating stronger trade relations between Nigeria and the European Union.
