The Agriculture and Agro-Allied Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called for stricter issuance of phytosanitary certificates for export-bound agricultural produce.
Mr Tunji Falade, Chairman of the group, made the call in an interview in Lagos, against the backdrop of some agricultural products rejected by the European Union (EU).
The EU had between 2015 and 2016 rejected 25 produce from Nigeria, including cocoa, sesame seeds, melon seeds, dried fish and meat.
But, Falade canvassed intensified collaboration between export regulatory agencies, organisations, exporters and farmers.
The chairman said the rejection of these commodities by the EU should not be seen as victimisation, but an opportunity to reposition Nigeria’s export system.
“This issue has always been the trend over the years. It is not the first time it is happening.
“What we should be trying to do now is to ensure that we get this export issue right, in terms of all the standards involved.
“Right now, we have some agencies that are supposed to be involved in the regulation of this process.
“Apart from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), we have the Nigerian Agriculture Quarantine Services.
“All of these organisations and agencies really need to collaborate with exporters, farmers, agronomists and stakeholders to ensure that before the products leave the country, all the standards are met.
“The issuing of phytosanitary certificates to export-bound agricultural produce should be very strict,’’ the LCCI official said.
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