Smoked fish is a popular ingredient in Nigeria as most people use it to enrich the taste of soups and cuisines. There has been a growing demand for smoked-dried fish outside Nigeria, especially in the US and Europe.
The high demand for smoked-dried fish abroad is as a result of the increased number of Africans living in the diaspora. As a result of this transcontinental migration and a growing appreciation for African flavors and food, smoked-dried fish has remained in high demand.
However, stricter regulations on food imported into the US and Europe are making it difficult for Africans to exploit the million-dollar foreign market for smoked-dried fish. The American government in March 2018 banned the exportation of smoked fish from Nigeria into the US. But, even with the ban, you can still successfully export the commodity into the UK and Europe in small quantities
The European Union (EU) regulations ban all ‘commercial’ consignments of smoked fish from Africa (and other non-EU countries) from entering the EU region. This regulation has seriously reduced the volume of smoked fish that can be exported to Europe. However, ‘personal’ exports are still allowed. Personal exports are small quantities of smoked fish (not more than 20kg in total weight). This regulation is designed to prevent the wholesale export of smoked fish to Europe. ‘Personal export’ includes consignments that are 20kg (or less) and may be carried as hand luggage while traveling. It can also be sent (by mail or freight) directly to private addresses and named individuals in the EU for personal consumption only. Any exports to registered businesses in the EU or export quantities beyond the 20kg limit will not be allowed and will be seized and/or destroyed at EU ports. This presents a huge opportunity for small businesses interested in exporting smoked fish to Europe.
