Exporters count losses as EU tightens food safety net

 He said: “What we are seeing from the European Union is not entirely surprising. The EU has always maintained very strict food safety standards, but what is changing now is the level of enforcement, coordination, and traceability across the entire value chain. This is no longer just about meeting regulatory requirements on paper. Exporters must now demonstrate compliance at every stage — from how products are grown to how they are processed, handled, and transported.”

 The trend is hitting key export products and raising concerns about the long-term competitiveness of the nation’s agriculture in high-value markets. Palm oil and local spices have repeatedly been flagged in countries such as Belgium and the United Kingdom for containing Sudan IV, a banned industrial dye linked to cancer but sometimes used to enhance colour. Packaged beans have also been turned back in Italy and Germany after tests revealed high levels of Dichlorvos, a highly toxic pesticide commonly referred to locally as “Sniper.”

 In another case, carbonated soft drinks exported to Ireland were rejected for exceeding permissible limits of Sunset Yellow (E110), a food dye associated with allergic reactions and hyperactivity in children. Adetiloye stressed that the tightening regime also presents opportunities.

 He said: “Exporters who are able to meet these stringent requirements will face less competition and gain stronger trust from European buyers. Access to the EU market will increasingly depend not just on having a product, but on the ability to prove compliance, consistency, and transparency throughout the supply chain. This is where the concept of ‘new agriculture’ becomes essential. It is no longer just about increasing production volumes, but about standards, traceability, quality assurance, and consistent delivery. If Nigeria is to compete effectively in global markets, we must transition from informal production systems to structured, compliant, and traceable value chains.”

 Throughout the region, member states are encouraged to enforce very low tolerance levels. Even minor lapses can result in outright rejection. A newly established EU taskforce is also tightening oversight of pesticide residues, food contaminants, and compliance systems in exporting countries. Under these rules, exporters must comply with strict Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for pesticides, often capped at extremely low thresholds. Where no specific limit exists, a default of 0.01 mg/kg applies, effectively requiring near-zero contamination. Every shipment must also be fully traceable, enabling authorities to quickly identify and withdraw unsafe products from the market. The heightened enforcement is backed by coordinated inspections at Border Control Posts and real-time alerts shared across EU member states. Once a product is flagged as unsafe, it is immediately blocked from entering any part of the union, amplifying the impact of each violation. According to Adetiloye, the tightening regime leaves little room for the informal practices still prevalent in the agro-export sector, as exporters risk being locked out of one of the world’s most lucrative food markets.

 Further evidence of the growing scrutiny emerged in RASFF notifications in February this year. The system, which enables EU food safety authorities to rapidly exchange information on health risks from food or feed, flagged several agricultural exports from Nigeria and other countries due to excessive pesticide residues and other safety violations, raising alarms over compliance gaps and possible certification fraud. For Nigeria, two major issues were identified. Non-alcoholic beverages were cited for excessive levels of Colour E110 (Sunset Yellow FCF), a synthetic dye restricted in many markets due to potential health risks. Nuts, nut products, and seeds were also found contaminated with Salmonella spp., a serious foodborne pathogen linked to outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness