Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 lays down the general principles governing food and food safety at Union and national level. It provides for emergency measures to be taken by the Commission, where there is evidence that food imported from a third country is likely to constitute a serious risk to human health.

In February 2018, Nigeria submitted a new action plan and stated that its objective was to control and streamline in particular dried beans, strengthen the legal and regulatory environment and build fundamentals for quality production of dried beans. However, the Commission understands that Nigeria has not yet implemented that action plan, nor granted any budgetary means for its implementation. The stage of implementation by Nigeria of the action plan as regards the integrated pest management and maximum residue levels of pesticides, do not allow the conclusion that Union requirements as regards pesticide residues on the relevant dried beans are met.

The duration of the imports suspension should therefore be extended for an additional period of three years, to allow Nigeria to implement the appropriate risk management measures and provide the required guarantees.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,