The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has stepped up efforts to curb the use of paraquat, a banned toxic herbicide, in sesame seed cultivation following renewed threats from international buyers to halt imports of Nigerian sesame over chemical contamination concerns.
The move comes after the Japan Oil & Fat Importers & Exporters Association (JOFIEA) and Japanese authorities issued multiple warnings regarding excessive paraquat residues detected in Nigerian sesame exports.
Similar alerts have also been raised through the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), which reported repeated cases of Salmonella contamination in sesame shipments to several EU countries, including Greece, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Spain, and Belgium.
In a bid to address these issues, the NEPC’s Product Development Department over the weekend organized a Sensitization and Awareness Programme on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Handling Practices (GHP), Good Storage Practices (GSP), and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS).
The event, held at the NULGE House Conference Hall in Jalingo, brought together key stakeholders such as representatives from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), and the National Sesame Seed Association of Nigeria.
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Speaking at the event, NEPC’s Director of Product Development, Macphetson Fred-Ileogben, represented by the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, emphasized the urgent need to eliminate paraquat use from the sesame value chain to protect Nigeria’s export reputation and meet international food safety standards.
“The future of our sesame export market depends on strict adherence to international standards. We must work together to ensure Nigerian sesame remains competitive and safe for consumers worldwide,” he stated.
As part of the sensitization campaign, the NEPC delegation paid courtesy visits to the Galadima of Muri and the village head of Sunkani in Ardo Kola Local Government Area two major sesame-producing communities in Taraba known for their use of paraquat, locally called “Sharp Sharp.”
The traditional leaders pledged their full support to educate farmers and enforce compliance with recommended agricultural practices.
The NEPC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s export markets and promoting sustainable, safe agricultural production across the country.
