The United States Department for Agriculture (USDA) has shed light on the rejection of Nigerian agricultural produce in the American market, attributing the issue to a lack of food safety documentation. This revelation was made by Christopher Bielecki, the Councilor for Agriculture Affairs at the USDA, during a Food and Feed Safety Expertise Coordination workshop held in Abuja.
The workshop, organized by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Food and Agriculture Export Alliance (FAEA), and the University of Missouri (MU), served as a platform to address critical issues related to food and feed safety.
Bielecki highlighted the challenges faced by Nigerian agricultural producers when attempting to export their products globally, including the United States. He emphasized that a significant proportion of these rejections stemmed from inadequate documentation regarding food safety.
While acknowledging that Nigeria is not the sole country facing such challenges, the USDA official emphasized that his office is actively working to ensure that food and agricultural exporters into the United States adhere to the importing rules, food safety regulations, and laws set by American authorities.
Bielecki underscored the importance of enhancing food safety practices, not only as a means to reduce rejection rates but also as a catalyst for fostering increased trade. Improving food safety measures, he noted, would stimulate trade, enabling Nigeria to enhance its food and agricultural exports, boost its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and increase foreign reserves.
Addressing the issues related to food safety documentation and adherence to international standards is essential for Nigerian agricultural producers to gain access to the vast American market and other international destinations. It is an imperative step towards ensuring the high-quality and safety of the country’s agricultural exports and further strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global trade arena.
