Govt Plans Laboratory to Reduce Agric Exports’ Rejection

• Govt Plans Laboratory to Reduce Agric Exports’ Rejection

The Federal Government is planning to set up a world-class laboratory that will have the capacity to test for Aflatoxins contamination, moisture content and some microbiology parameters necessary for agricultural produce to be exported out of the country.

The move is part of measures to reduce the rejection rate of products exported from Nigeria to other countries.

The European Union had put a ban on the exportation of some Nigerian agricultural products due to non-compliance with standards.

The products include beans, sesame seeds, melon seeds, dried fish and meat, peanut chips and palm oil.

Speaking at the opening session of the 31st conference of Directors of Produce Inspection Services, the Director, Commodities and Products Inspectorate, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Omololu Opeewe, said the rejection rate of Nigerian produce was embarrassing to the government.

She explained that the government was currently working on addressing the issue of standards through scientific inspection of some of the products.

This, she noted, would help improve the quality of these products and enhance availability of Nigeria’s agricultural produce to the international market.

Opeewe stated, “The Federal Produce Inspection Service is set to establish a world-class laboratory that will have the capacity to test for Aflatoxins contamination, moisture content and some microbiology parameters necessary for our produce going out of the country.

“With this development, electronic certificates issued by the FPIS on quality, fumigation, packaging, and weight will be linked strategically online with other agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council.”

She expressed optimism that the automation of the certification process of the FPIS would help to achieve transparency, speed and efficiency.