NAQS to enforce digital certification for agricultural exports from July 15

The ePhyto system, a digital platform for phytosanitary certification, aims to streamline export processes, minimize delays, and ensure compliance with international standards.This innovation is expected to reduce rejections of Nigerian agro-commodities in international markets by providing electronic certificates that validate the quality and compliance of exported goods.

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Vincent Isegbe, Comptroller General, NAQS, speaking at the ePhyto project closing event held in Abuja, highlighted the importance of the ePhyto system in enhancing the efficiency of agricultural commodity exports.

“This initiative, in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, represents a significant stride forward in our mission to enhance the efficiency of agricultural commodity export in Nigeria,” he stated.

The event featured a presentation and live demonstration of the ePhyto system, showcasing its capabilities and benefits to Nigeria’s trade processes. Isegbe emphasized the importance of building on this momentum to explore further innovations and efficiencies in agricultural export processes.

He called for continued collaboration to foster a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector in Nigeria. “Let us keep collaborating to realize our common goal of a stronger and more competitive export market both domestically and globally,” he said.

Idachaba Ebenezer, the International Plant Protection Convention, IPPC, contact person, confirmed that from July 15, compliance with the ePhyto system will be mandatory.

“There will be no more paper documents. Compliance will be enforced from 15th July. The project, which is a year old, has been used by 20% of NAQS stakeholders,” he stated.

Adopting electronic phytosanitary certification allows agricultural exporters to benefit from time and cost savings. It eliminates the requirement to spend hours travelling in person to regional offices of NAQS, the country’s National Plant Protection Office, NPPO, and long waits to complete phytosanitary formalities.

“Beyond time and cost savings, using the IPPC ePhyto Hub also strengthens consumer safety, enhances procedural transparency, mitigates opportunities for documentary falsification, increases food security through quicker border clearance, and reduces barriers to trade, particularly for resource-poor micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs),” Ebenezer noted.