Propelled to address the environmental effect of deforestation, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari on Wednesday inaugurated the National Task Force (NTF) on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This is part of the last ditch efforts to prevent the economy from the backlash that may occur as a result of the impending doom from the ban on the export of some agricultural products to the European countries.
The EUDR December 30, 2024 deadline aims to ensure that a set of key goods placed on the EU market will no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elsewhere in the world.
The launch, has Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Indonesia, Nigeria, Paraguay and Peru expressing concerns about the impact of the law which
seeks to ban the importation of seven commodities into the European markets by December 31, 2024.
The seven commodities are cocoa, coffee, beef, palm oil, soy, rubber and wood along with derived products such as chocolate, leather, tyres, and furniture.
He noted that the EU, being a significant trade partner, poses a serious risk to Nigeria’s export markets for cocoa, rubber, soya, and timber— which together make up 80 per cent, 7 per cent and 5 per cent respectively, of Nigeria’s €523m export trade to the EU market, if the country fails to comply with the EUDR.
To ensure Nigeria’s compliance with the regulation on deforestation-free agricultural products and boost the economy, Kyari said the inauguration of NTF was a strategic step toward addressing issues in alignment with the EUDR.
He said, “Only products that are deforestation-free meaning they have not contributed to deforestation or forest degradation after December 31, 2020, and are legal according to the domestic laws of the country of origin, will be permitted in the EU market.
“The European Union (EU) as a major trade partner, and non-compliance with the EUDR would severely impact Nigeria’s export markets for cocoa, rubber, soya, and timber, which account for 80 per cent, 7 per cent, 5 per cent, respectively of Nigeria’s 523 million Euro export trade to the EU.”
To this effect, “The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has inaugurated the National Task Force (NTF) on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to ensure Nigeria’s compliance with the regulation on deforestation-free agricultural products and boost the economy” the statement by the Acting Director of Information FMAFS Ezeaja Ikemefuna read in Abuja.
Kyari speaking ahead of the December deadline appealed for the extension to ensure more countries’ compliance with the regulations of the EUDR
According to him, “The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) comprising all cocoa-producing nations at the recently concluded meeting unequivocally called for a two-year postponement of the EUDR deadline.
“I therefore use this opportunity to join the call for the suspension of the EUDR.”
Kyari also stressed the importance of collaboration to establish a central national database for traceability and certification, as well as forest mapping and due diligence to ensure deforestation-free products.
He highlighted Ghana’s progress in mapping 1.2 million farms and preparing to trace cocoa beans from farms to ships.
He pointed out that Nigeria would follow suit and avoid lagging in compliance, as he mandates the NTF to work with both government and private sector stakeholders, to meet these standards, and to secure Nigeria’s position in the global market.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Temitope Peter Fashedemi, represented by the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Engr. Abubakar Abdullahi assured the ministry of support to the NTF towards achieving its mandate in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda in the Agriculture Sector.
The National Task Force’s Terms of Reference (ToR), include the coordination of relevant stakeholders towards having a national approach to EUDR; Designing implementation and funding strategy for the National Task Force on EUDR; Reviewing and adopting a state plan for Nationwide implementation; Creating comprehensive GIS infrastructure for cocoa production; Digitization and profiling of all value chain actors and other traceability dimensions, Engage EU on possibility of deadline extension, amongst others.
