The federal government has increased the tariff on imported tomato concentrate from 40 per cent to 50 per cent. It also imposed additional levy of $1,500 on each metric tonne of tomato concentrate imported into the country as against 10 per cent duty based on the Common External Tariff by the Nigeria Customs Service, NSC.
Okechukwu Enelamah, minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who announced the new policy in Abuja, Tuesday, said the move was in line with the government’s objective of boosting tomato production, improving the value chain and attracting investment. The new policy takes effect from May 8, 2017, when the ECOWAS Secretariat would have been notified.
Enelamah said that the new policy is expected to create at least 60,000 additional jobs in fresh fruit production and processing. He explained that the tomato sector policy was developed and being implemented in collaboration with the Federal ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance and Water Resources, as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
The minister explained that the new policy was targeted at increasing local production of fresh tomato fruit required for fresh fruit consumption and processing; increase local production of tomato concentrate; and reduce post-harvest losses. He added that the price-based measures had provided the government with the opportunity to classify greenhouse equipment as agricultural equipment in order to attract zero per cent import duty; stopped the importation of tomato paste, powder and concentrate put up for retail sale; and stopped the importation of tomato preserved with vinegar or acetic acid.