Plants/Plant Products and Regulated Articles shall upon importation into Nigeria, be subjected to inspection by an Authorised Plant Quarantine Inspector.
Authorised Plant Quarantine Inspector will verify that the consignment of plants/plants products is accompanied by an Import Permit and in some cases Phytosanitary Certificate of Country of Export.
An authorised Plant Quarantine Inspector may agree to carry out inspection at the final destination after ascertaining that the container is properly sealed with prescribed markings, and upon approval by Customs for the container to be transferred to the facility of the consignee.
If upon inspection carried out, Authorised Plant Quarantine Inspector verifies that the documentation and consignment comply with the Phytosanitary requirements as stated in the Import Permit, he will issue a Phytosanitary Inspected and Released Certificate.
If upon inspection, Authorised Plant Quarantine Inspector determines that the imported consignment is not accompanied by any relevant documentation for Plant Importations or does not meet Phytosanitary requirements established in the Import Permit, or presents any risk for the introduction or spread of pests, the imported plant/plant products will be subjected to:
Laboratory tests
Appropriate treatment for disinfection/disinfestation
Re-exportation
Confiscation, or
Destruction by a means to be specified at the importer’s expense.
If upon inspection or as may be stated on the Import Permit, the Authorised Plant Quarantine Inspector determines that a consignment of plants/plant products requires further Phytosanitary Screening, he/she will direct that:
Consignment is moved straight to NAQS Post Entry Quarantine facility.
Consignment moved into Post Entry Quarantine facility, will be released after appropriate Phytosanitary Screening/treatment.
Apply for import permit to the chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, Area 11, Abuja.
Obtain import/export permit for wildlife subject to the acquisition of CITES permit from the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Notify Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) of import permit details.
Notify NAQS of the arrival date.
On arrival point of entry, make declaration of animal /animal product or consignment for NAQS inspection and certification.
Declaration should include the entire document accompanying the animal/animal product and consignment including Sanitary/Health certificate of the animal, documents of port of embarkment, port of disembarkment, country of export, country of destination, purpose of importation etc.
NAQS officer verifies the document and consignments as well as the status of animal & animal product at the point of entry.
On arrival at the port, NAQS officials conduct visual inspection of animal and animal products. Live animals are sent to the quarantine stations for observation and suspected animal products are lab tested. If satisfied, animal or animal products are released; otherwise animal or animal products are detained for further quarantine action.
Quarantine facilities where animals are sent to could be NAQS or owners’ facility where necessary laboratory checks and certification are carried out.
For live animals, they must be held for a reasonable quarantine period.
If the animal & animal product or consignment does not comply with the above, the importer will pay the appropriate user fees (calculated by NAQS) for further necessary quarantine action.
Where an animal is infected with a zoonotic disease, the animal could be seized for further necessary action or destroyed by NAQS at the importer’s expense.
All import of aquatic resources into the country must be by a limited liability company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
The certified true copy of the memorandum of Association and Certificate of Registration must accompany all applications.
Application to import aquatic resource must be on the letterheadmail of the company. The application will show detail of the intent to import aquatic live fish, the scientific and common / local name of the species to be imported, the quantity, total weight and mode of transportation.
The Application should be addressed to: The Coordinating Director, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Abuja. Attn: Director, Aquatic Resources Quarantine
All imports must be accompanied by valid import permits.
Approval to import is subject to the inspection of the intended Holding facilities (farm, tanks, ponds etc) for aquatic resources.
There must be a good disposal of wastewater from the facility. Note the wastewater must not be discharged into any natural body of water.
The import of aquatic resources must be accompanied with a Health Certificate from the country of origin.
Certificate showing that the import is free from area of contagious diseases, parasites, pests, pathogenic organisms and diseases.
A written note to NAQS indicating expected date of arrival, port of entry and mode of transportation.
All documents relating to imports must be verified on arrival.
A sample of import will be taken for quarantining by NAQS – AR officers.
DATA Form for every import must be mandatorily filled.
Monitoring of aquatic (Live fish) import will be carried out by the NAQS officers for the next three years.
The importer must ensure and facilitate the monitoring of imports within a stipulated time and he/she is required to bear the cost of logistics to carry out this function by NAQS quarantine officers.
Compliance requirements for importation of live aquatic products involve the inspection of product country of origin; conduct import risk analysis and quarantine stringent assessment for appropriate level of protection and biosecurity protocol.
Analysis of the current water parameters such as temperature, pH values, salinity content, turbidity and water hardness, presence of carbon dioxide gases, ammonia and nitrite compounds.
A quarantine integrity Certificate is issued after all observations on quarantining and laboratory results are confirmed satisfactory.
Note: All logistics for sample quarantining is borne by the importer. This includes monitoring budget, accommodation and personal allowances of the quarantine officer.
NAQS will not be responsible for any losses or mortality of products due to delay or negligence or mismanagement of live fish by importer or his agent.
