Lubabatu I. Garba
The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has tasked exporters with the need to secure export certificates to avoid product rejection or loss when exported.
NAFDAC Director General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye gave the charge in Kano during the Northwest stakeholder’s workshop for exporters of NAFDAC-regulated products.
Represented by NAFDAC Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied Product, Rametu Momodu, the DG said the meeting ”aims to enlighten stakeholders in the value chain, including representatives from the export commission, farmers and those who engage in exports of regulated products on the procedures to engaged in to export their products.
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She said the export process is designed to ensure these products such as food, drugs and chemicals that needs special handling meet certain standards before export, noting that the certification process is free and fast.
“This is something the DG of NAFDAC put very close to her heart; putting a lot of resources to ensure that in this season where there is a focus and a shift towards non oil export material/products, investment is been put in training stakeholders on how to conduct these export processes.
“We prioritise export, conduct the processes, carryout the inspection, do the lab analysis and issue the certificate when everything is okay,” she stated.
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While assuring them of no rejection after certifications, Adeyeye hinted that the Agency has knowledge of what countries need and the maximum residues on products when it comes to pesticides or other agrochemicals on materials/products.
She further added they are working in synergy with relevant stakeholders, supporting each other to achieve their mandate and add value to export, emphasizing that the efforts would ensure exported food products meet safety standards, contribute to global food security, and support international trade.
In her presentation on inspection/processing/packaging/quality of processed and semi processed food items for export, NAFDAC Deputy director, ports inspectorate, export division, Oluwaseyi Sanoolu, urged exporters to apply good hygiene practices especially on food products, proper storage system and ensure farmers where they obtain produce from, practice good agricultural practices in order to add value and prevent rejection of goods.
In her presentation the Director Veterinary Medicine and Allied Product Dr. Rametu Momodu noted that pesticide management on agricultural product is imperative right at farm, warehouse and distribution level.
She called on the exporters to engage in testing and analysing pesticide with NAFDAC laboratory and get their products certified.
An exporter nlNura Habib pointed out that the workshop is very vital to them as it will assist them to export their goods without been rejected in the global market.