How to Export Sesame Seeds From Nigeria (2026 Guide)

Nigeria is one of the main sources of sesame for the European market, but it is also a country the EU watches closely. If you want to export sesame seeds from Nigeria, the buyer's laboratory matters as much as the seeds themselves. This guide explains the quality numbers buyers use, what the EU's increased border checks mean for you, how to clean and pack the seed, and which Nigerian documents you need. Facts come from NEPC, the European Union's official legal text and CBI, the Dutch import promotion agency, read in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the named authority before you ship.

Sesame seed types and quality specifications

NEPC's sesame profile (dated June 2018) names three types: black, white and hulled sesame. It lists purity of 98 to 99.5 percent, foreign matter of 2 percent maximum, oil content of 45 percent minimum and moisture of 8 percent maximum. It gives these as quality requirements for Nigerian seed, and names Nasarawa, Jigawa, Benue, Yobe, Taraba, Kano, Katsina, Gombe, Kogi, Plateau and Niger among the producing states.

CBI's 2024 market entry guide is stricter in places. It says there are no official quality standards for sesame and that buyers set their own, and it gives an indicative grading table: purity from above 97 percent (lowest grade) to above 99.99 percent (highest), foreign material from under 3 percent down to under 0.02 percent, moisture from under 7.5 percent down to under 5 percent, oil above 45 percent up to above 52 percent, and free fatty acid under 2 percent down to under 1 percent. For storage it recommends moisture below 6 percent. The practical point: the 2018 NEPC numbers will get you into the conversation, but premium buyers will ask for tighter cleaning and drier seed.

EU Salmonella checks on Nigerian sesame

This is the most important rule in the post. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, Nigerian sesame seeds (CN code 1207 40 90) are listed for increased official controls at EU borders for Salmonella, at a frequency of 50 percent. We read this in the consolidated text dated 18 February 2026, and CBI reported the same 50 percent rate in July 2024. Put simply, about half of consignments are sampled and tested on arrival. A positive Salmonella result is a serious problem for the lot, and CBI says the 50 percent inspection rate raises importers' costs and reduces Nigeria's competitiveness.

You can read the entry in the consolidated EU regulation on EUR-Lex. The list is reviewed regularly, so look up the latest version before you contract.

Ethylene oxide and pesticide residues

CBI states that ethylene oxide is not allowed in Europe and that the maximum residue level for sesame is 0.05 mg/kg. Pesticide maximum residue limits also apply, and CBI gives an example, 2 mg/kg for fosetyl-Al including phosphonic acid in sesame. The lesson for Nigerian exporters is to know exactly what has been applied to the crop and the store, keep spray records, and avoid fumigants your buyer's market does not allow. CBI notes that organic sesame must meet Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and that the whole supply chain must be certified. We did not find aflatoxin limits for sesame on the pages we read, so we are not giving a figure here; ask your buyer for their specification.

Cleaning, sorting and packing sesame for export

Salmonella and foreign matter are mostly handling problems. Seed dried on bare ground, stored in damp sheds or bagged by many different hands is the usual route to contamination. CBI recommends HACCP-based controls, traceability through the supply chain, metal detection and in-line magnets, and notes that advanced suppliers use colour sorting. Buyers expect a product data sheet and a certificate of analysis with each offer. Recognised certifications include FSSC 22000 or ISO 22000, BRCGS and IFS, though CBI is clear that certification supports compliance and does not replace it.

On packaging, NEPC's profile suggests clean jute or polypropylene bags of 45 to 50 kg, while CBI says common export packing is 25 kg bags or big bags of up to one tonne in polypropylene or multi-layered kraft paper, with organic buyers often preferring paper. Packaging must comply with the EU rule on food contact materials (Regulation (EC) 1935/2004). Agree the bag size with your buyer in the contract.

Documents and registration to export sesame from Nigeria

Register as an exporter with NEPC through its e-registration platform and receive your exporter certificate. NEPC's export documents page then lists a phytosanitary certificate from the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service for agricultural commodities, a signed export contract, proforma and commercial invoices, a packing list, the NXP form from your bank, a clean certificate of inspection from a pre-shipment inspection agency, a certificate of origin and a transport document. NAQS's export guidelines ask you to request inspection well in advance and say plant material without a phytosanitary certificate may be rejected or destroyed on arrival.

See the NEPC export documents page for the full list, and our guide to exporting from Nigeria for the bigger picture.

Who buys Nigerian sesame

NEPC's 2018 profile lists Japan, Turkey, Vietnam, Brazil, UAE and China among importers and singles out China, Japan and Turkey as the markets with the greatest potential. CBI reports that EU imports from Nigeria doubled between 2020 and 2023 to 49 million euros, while warning that Salmonella, pesticides, logistics and insecurity in northern farming areas may limit growth. Before accepting any contract, use our checklist on vetting overseas partners and agree payment terms using the LC, TT and escrow guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the moisture content for export sesame? NEPC lists 8 percent maximum; CBI's indicative grading runs from under 7.5 percent to under 5 percent, and recommends storing below 6 percent. Your buyer's contract decides.

Why does the EU test so much Nigerian sesame? Nigerian sesame seeds are listed in Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 for Salmonella checks at 50 percent frequency, which is why clean handling and pre-shipment testing matter.

Can I use ethylene oxide to fumigate sesame for the EU? No. CBI states ethylene oxide is not allowed in Europe, with a maximum residue level of 0.05 mg/kg for sesame.

How do I get a phytosanitary certificate in Nigeria? Request inspection from NAQS well in advance, present the consignment, and pay the user fee; NAQS says one certificate is issued per consignment.

Getting started

List your sesame for free on the Comilmart food and agro marketplace, with your seed type, purity, moisture and packing size stated clearly. Verified supplier checks are optional and can be completed later; browse the supplier directory to see what buyers look for, or create a free account. Overseas buyers can send a request for quotation. Comilmart cannot promise buyers, orders, volumes or prices. For a broader view of the trade, read our farmers' export guide.