Monrovia – The government of Liberia through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and the Ministry of Commerce Friday, November 22, signed a Technical Cooperation with the Ghana Standard Authority as a temporary arrangement for the certification and testing of Liberian Fish and Fish Product only for export to the European Union market.
At the same time, Liberia has sent two technicians from the Commerce Ministry to Brussels to undergo training for the REX Program (Registered of Exporters) in order to maintain and implement the program in Liberia.
These are set criteria prior to the commencement for direct export of fish and fish product from Liberia to the EU market.
According to a NaFAA press release, prior to this arrangement, the Legislature under the Weah led government signed unto the economic partnership agreement, which is the framework for implementing the REX.
The program allows export to EU market on a zero% tariff basis. This is the first time that Liberia fish and fish products will be exported to the EU market, which is consider a gateway for other Liberian products to hit the EU market.
In another development, Liberia through NaFAA for the first time has Flagged Two Tuna Purse seiners of Sovereign Trade Services a Liberian registered company (industrial pelagic fishing vessels) on its domestic vessel registry and attracted investment to start operating by January 2020.