Abuja — The anti-Nigeria industry strategy of the European Union (EU) is threatening the survival of Cocoa processing in the country, the Cocoa Processors Association of Nigeria (COPAN) has said.

The Association said this yesterday in Abuja while presentation their challenges to the Minister of Commerce and Industry Chief Achike Udenwa.

COPAN Chairman Mr. Abimbola Oladapo said in the present market situation where the European Union tax any processed Cocoa product from Nigeria but allow free trade for the raw cocoa beans has resulted to a lot of problems for the.

He said: "This is because Europe wants their factories to be more viable by taxing us and not doing same to the raw product which has created a lot of problems for us.

"The implication is that people will now be willing to export cocoa beans than processing it. As a matter of fact one or two factories have opted out and are now exporting the raw product.

"What we believe is that since Europe is protecting their industries, the government should also protect our own industries by putting tariffs on cocoa beans."

The Association said out of the 18 cocoa factories established as at 1986 with total processing capacity of 236k tonnes, only 8 factories are presently running with about 60 tonnes capacity due to numerous problem ranging from lower competitiveness, among others.