The European Union (EU) is collaborating with Nigerian authorities to improve the quality of some products which have been banned for export as they fail to meet European standards.

These items include beans and some fish products.

According to the Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria & ECOWAS, Kurt Cornelis (photo), although the products were desirable, the EU needed to protect its consumers. “We are working with the Nigerian authorities in trying to improve the quality of exports that are concerned. But we, of course, need to protect our consumers in the European market and we have our standards. Unfortunately for some Nigerian exporters, these standards have to be met. So, that means that they have to upgrade the quality of the Nigerian products. There are some investments to be made and I hope that this will lead to better access to the European market in the next months or years,” he said.

Cornelis noted that the EU is pleased with achievements made so far in West Africa in terms of quality standards, which the union has supported for close to two decades. “We will definitely continue supporting the West Africa quality infrastructure. We are in the process of approving new important programmes aimed at developing some value chains in the West African states and the quality infrastructure will definitely be part of that.”

The EU Head of Delegation added that the union is also working on trade facilitation to ensure that exports within the West Africa system and also to Europe “will be smoother and that products can meet the quality that is required by our consumers so that we can have to develop better, the West Africa export and also the economy.”

Anita Fatunji