EU Ambassador Dispels Rumours Of Mass Agric Export Ban

The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and West Africa, HE Michel Arrion, has dispelled rumours of the ban of the exportation of all fresh agricultural products from Nigeria to European markets. He stated categorically that only dry beans was banned, and this was done to protect the health of European consumers.

Speaking to AgroNigeria in an interview conducted on the sidelines of the 4th EU-Nigeria Business Forum, held at Eko Hotel, Lagos between the 5th and 6th of November, 2015, Arrion rejected accusations of European protectionism, stating that Europe does not even produce dry beans.

“This is a matter of the protection of the health of consumers. We had to take this unfortunate decision because of at least 60 rejections of Nigerian dry beans at European ports”, Mr. Arrion said. He blamed the situation on the high content of banned and harmful pesticides in dry beans. These pesticides, according to him, are usually added by post-harvest warehousing traders to such products, to treat and preserve such maximally till export. However, the pesticides could result in serious medical conditions, some of which may not manifest until 20 years after ingestion.

Credit: AGRONIGERIA