Stakeholders in the food sector have decried the rejection of Nigerian foods in international markets. The experts, who were working towards the harmonisation of the Food Safety and Quality Bill (2019) raised the alarm during a workshop in Abuja.
Speaking at the workshop organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group,the Permanent Secretary for the ministry, Mahmuda Mamman, outlined the possible causes for the rejection of Nigerian foods in the international market.
According to him, the multi-agency food safety regulatory approach operated in Nigeria has led to the problem of multi-jurisdiction, which resulted in loss of consumer confidence.
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Speaking through Taiye Ologun, the permanent secretary stated that the bill was important in improving the acceptability of Nigerian foods in the global market.
Also noting that the bill would ensure consumer health, Mamman stated that the ministry partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organisation so that food safety risks would be efficiently managed.