LACRA Makes Decisive Moves -Takes Action to Combat Smuggling, Secure EU Market Access

MONROVIA – The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) is taking bold steps to protect the country’s economic interests and secure its position in global trade.

In a series of high-level meetings, LACRA addressed two critical challenges: rampant smuggling of key commodities and compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

LACRA has met with the Joint Security, including the Liberia National Police and Immigration, to tackle the illegal export of cocoa beans, coffee, and palm oil to neighboring countries.

Acting Director General Dan Saryee emphasized the impact of smuggling on the national economy, stating, “Cocoa is one of the key sources of our foreign exchange, and we must ensure it’s not illegally exported to other countries.”

LACRA also met with international development partners, including the Swedish Embassy, IFC, and UNIDO, to discuss Liberia’s compliance strategy for the EUDR.

The regulation requires commodities imported into the EU to be verifiable as “deforestation-free” and have full traceability to the farm plot.

Saryee said, the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority has been taking decisive action to combat smuggling and ensure compliance with international regulations, securing Liberia’s position in global trade.

“LACRA is working tirelessly to protect Liberia’s economic interests and environment, while promoting sustainable agriculture practices and securing market access for Liberian commodities,” he said.

LACRA Rallies Security Forces and Development Partners to Combat Smuggling and Ensure EU Market Access for Liberian Commodities

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) is taking decisive action to protect the country’s economic interests and secure its position in global trade. In a series of high-level consultative meetings held at its Freeport of Monrovia office, LACRA addressed two interconnected, critical challenges: the rampant smuggling of key commodities and the urgent need for compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

LACRA’s first consultative meeting brought together members of the Joint Security, including the Liberia National Police (LNP) and Immigration. The central focus was the continuous illegal export of cocoa beans, coffee, and palm oil to neighboring countries.

Acting Director General Dan Saryee stressed the profound impact of this illicit trade on the national economy. “Cocoa is one of the key sources of our foreign exchange, and in order to grow our GDP, we must ensure it’s not illegally exported to other countries,” said DG Saryee.

 “The foreign earnings we want are based on the volume of export. We need to work assiduously to ensure we protect what is grown locally.”

Smuggling, often driven by volatile global prices, directly reduces Liberia’s official export volumes, leading to a loss of critical foreign currency and an understatement of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

It also undermines LACRA’s regulatory mandate and the long-term competitiveness of the sector.

Our Deputy Director General for Operations and Technical Services Apha Gongolee and Acting Deputy Director for Administration and Finance Adophus Forkpa all attended the meeting and made remarks buttressing the Acting Director General.

Assistant Police Commissioner Prince Saylee and other high-ranking security officers pledged their full commitment to collaborate with LACRA to secure Liberia’s borders and production areas, thereby reasserting state control over its valuable agricultural resources.

The Joint Security Meeting was followed by a crucial meeting with international development partners, including representatives from the Swedish Embassy, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The discussion centered on Liberia’s compliance strategy for the new EUDR, a prerequisite for accessing the lucrative European market.

The EUDR mandates that key commodities imported into the EU must be verifiable as “deforestation-free” (not linked to land deforested after December 31, 2020) and have full traceability to the farm plot.

In response, DG Saryee unveiled LACRA’s strategic roadmap, which includes:

The establishment of a National Traceability System.

Initiating a nationwide farm mapping program to collect geolocation coordinates for every farm.

Developing a mobile application to digitally track farmers, farmland, and farmer identity.

These integrated steps will ensure that Liberian cocoa, coffee, and palm oil meet stringent international standards, safeguarding market access and positioning Liberia as a reliable and sustainable source of agricultural commodities” he said

The partners praised LACRA vision for implementing the EUDR regulations.

LACRA’s strategic roadmap includes: establishing a National Traceability System, Nationwide farm mapping program, and Developing a mobile application to digitally track farmers, farmland, and farmer identity

“We need to work assiduously to ensure we protect what is grown locally,” said DG Saryee, adding that these integrated steps will ensure that Liberian cocoa, coffee, and palm oil meet stringent international standards, safeguarding market access and positioning Liberia as a reliable and sustainable source of agricultural commodities.