THE National Cocoa Development Committee and the Cocoa Association of Nigeria began a two-day sensitisation workshop in Asaba, Delta State yesterday on European Union Regulation on Pesticides Residue, which takes effect from the 1st of September this year.

Addressing the workshop participants, the state governor, who was represented by the state deputy governor, Prof Amos Utuama (SAN) noted that "It is my hope that your discussions will stimulate and encourage good agricultural practice so that pesticides are applied in line with the product label recommendations.

In response to the impending ban on cocoa with high pesticide residue levels with effect from 1st September 2008 by the European Union, this workshop should work out ways to sanitize all stakeholders in the cocoa industry on this crucial subject matter.

"As a key member of the global cocoa market," he went on, "Nigeria will be directly affected by the European Union Regulation, as over three hundred thousand metric tonnes of Nigeria's cocoa bean is exported to Europe.

"The standardization and classification of agricultural products," he said, "is important for human safety. Our cocoa beans are exported to the European Union counties who process same into various value-added products, which are then exported back to us, the final consumers."