Federal Government Launches National Task Force to Ensure Compliance with EU Deforestation Regulation
The Federal Government has launched the National Task Force on the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari announced the establishment of the task force, highlighting its importance in aligning Nigeria’s agricultural practices with international standards. This initiative aims to ensure that Nigerian products maintain access to the lucrative EU market.
Kyari emphasized the urgency of the task, noting that the EU’s deforestation regulation came into effect on June 29, 2023, with an implementation deadline set for December 2024.
He further stressed the significant risks associated with non-compliance, stating, “The loss of the market due to non-compliance with the EUDR poses a major threat to the cocoa, rubber, soya, and timber value chains, which represent 80%, 7%, 7%, and 5% respectively of Nigeria’s €523 million export trade.”
Kyari emphasized the need for a collaborative effort to meet EUDR standards.
“As members of the National Task Force on EUDR, we have an urgent and vital responsibility ahead of us, and we can no longer afford to operate in silos,” he urged.He urged unity among all stakeholders, including government and private sector participants, to meet the established targets.
The minister also highlighted the importance of updating Nigeria’s forest mapping and implementing a national traceability system across agricultural value chains.
He noted, “The last mapping of our forest areas was conducted in 1959, making it essential to establish a national traceability system across our agricultural value chains.”
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