The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has concluded a intensive three-day capacity-building program for its regulatory staff on pesticide residue risk assessment.
The regulatory initiative aims to enhance food safety standards and resolve long-standing international restrictions imposed on Nigerian dry beans over excessive chemical residues.
The training was organized in collaboration with Mississippi State University (USA) under a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-sponsored research initiative titled “Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Produce Using Beans and Sesame Seeds in Nigeria as a Case Study.”
Key Focus Areas & Technical Training
The program equipped regulatory officers with skills across core safety disciplines:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ REGULATORY CAPACITY BUILDING │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Pesticide Surveillance : Advanced methods for detecting chemical │
│ residues in export-bound legumes. │
│ │
│ • Laboratory Analysis : Calibration of testing tools to align with │
│ Codex Alimentarius global threshold standards. │
│ │
│ • Risk Assessment : Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point │
│ (HACCP) frameworks for agricultural supply chains. │
│ │
│ • Evidence-Based Action : Using scientific risk profiling to guide │
│ export approvals and ban resolutions. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
(Source: NAFDAC Directorate of Food Safety & Applied Nutrition)
Context: Overcoming the European Union Ban
The European Union originally banned the import of Nigerian dried beans due to high concentrations of Dichlorvos (DDVP) and other organophosphate pesticides used by farmers and grain merchants during storage to prevent weevil infestations.
Previous attempts to lift the embargo faced delays due to gaps in traceability, monitoring, and standardized pesticide usage across rural farming hubs.
“This initiative forms part of our broader commitment to ensuring that Nigerian food products meet international safety thresholds. Equipping our staff with rigorous risk-assessment tools is essential to guaranteeing export compliance and getting Nigerian beans accepted worldwide.” — NAFDAC Statement
Next Steps for Exporters
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Pesticide Monitoring: NAFDAC is rolling out field surveillance across major bean-producing states to ensure safer post-harvest preservation alternatives are used.
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Laboratory Certification: Testing centers in Lagos and Abuja are updating their screening protocols to issue validated food safety clearance certificates for agro-exporters before shipment.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
