The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has tasked exporters on 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 stakeholders workshop for exporters of NAFDAC regulated products on Monday.
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.
She said the export process is designed to ensure these products such as food, drugs and chemicals that need 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 has been put in training stakeholders on how to conduct these export processes.
“We prioritise export, conduct the processes, carry out the inspection, do the lab analysis and issue the certificate when everything is okay,” she stated.
While assuring them of no rejection after certifications, Adeyeye said 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, emphasising 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.
