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NESG, others task NAFDAC on laboratory for fortification

Lagos, Oct. 1, 2023: The Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and eHealth, has urged NAFDAC to prioritise the establishment of a testing laboratory for fortification.

The Senior Programme Officer, CISLAC, Mr Muhammed Murtala, said during the groups visit to the Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), that establishing a laboratory for testing fortification in Nigeria, would help to ensure that Nigerians have access to safe and nutritious food.

According to him, fortification is the process of adding vitamins and minerals to food and it is a public health strategy that is used to improve the nutritional status of a population and to prevent micronutrient deficiencies.

He said that the lack of a testing laboratory was a major obstacle to the effective implementation of the mandatory food fortification programme in Nigeria

He noted that NAFDAC currently relies on private laboratories to test fortified foods, which according to him, was expensive and time-consuming.

Mr Dianabasi Akpaninyang, Consultant, Large-Scale Food Fortification and Workforce Nutrition Project, urged the government to partner with the private sector to promote food fortification in Nigeria.

He said, “the government can do this by developing and implementing policies that support food fortification, such as mandatory fortification standards and financial incentives for food producers.

“The private sector can do this by investing in food fortification equipment and by producing and marketing fortified foods.”

He urged the company to ensure their workers are fortified meals, noting that consuming food fortified with all nutrients would improve their productivity and prevent micronutrient deficiencies.

Earlier, Mrs Jessica Nworgu, Manager, Quality Control, FMN, urged the government to equip its lab and ensure the workers had the technical know-how to carry out sample testings.

“I wish that the regulatory bodies like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have a good lab.

“I feel that part of their problems is the technical know-how; and if they have the technical know-how, and are trained with the right equipment to carry out these tests, it will go a long way.

“I say this because when we send our samples to them, they are able to analyse only two or three of the micronutrients which does not make sense.

“So, if we have a good lab, or private lab or even advocacy labs that can be set for the manufacturing company, It will be wonderful,” she said.

She also complained about the cost of production for the Vitamin A premix, which is a fortification micronutrient, the recommended tariff of 20 per cent as against five per cent, among others.

The highlight of the visit was a tour to the company’ canteen to check if workers were fed with fortified food, visit to the store where fortificant were kept and how they were mixed. 

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NAFDAC reaches out to pre-shipment inspection agents on food exports

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Abuja, July 10, 2023: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reached out to pre-shipment inspection agents at Nigerian ports on the need for them to collaborate with a view to ensuring that export-bound foods are not rejected abroad.

The collaboration move was contained in a statement signed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and issued on Sunday by the agency’s Media Consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola.

The statement said that Adeyeye reached out to the pre-shipment agents at a consultative meeting held on Friday.

According to the statement, Adeyeye was represented at the meeting by Dr Abimbola Adegboye, Director, Port Inspection Directorate (PID), NAFDAC) and the Head, Office of Trade and International Relations (OTIR).

Adeyeye said the collaboration was in continuation of the search for a lasting solution to the problem of Nigerian non-oil exports which were being rejected abroad.

She said that the collaboration would revamp the export trade in the non-oil sector and reposition Nigeria in the global market.

The NAFDAC boss expressed the agency’s discomfort at the alarming rate at which Nigerian food exports were being rejected abroad.

She said the meeting was aimed at building effective collaboration with NAFDAC to complement its robust regulatory policies geared towards understanding the NAFDAC export processes.

Adeyeye said that the collaboration was also to safeguard a unified exportation procedure and zero rejection of Nigeria’s export products.

She lamented that NAFDAC, which she described as the competent authority on food safety matter with global accreditation in food safety testing, could be left out in the list of organisations whose inputs were required before Clean Certificate of Inspection (CCI) is issued by Pre-shipment Inspection Agents.

She said that there was high volume of rejection of Nigerian food products abroad because NAFDAC was not involved in the screening such products prior to their exportation.

“NAFDAC as a governmental agency was established by enabling Act Cap N1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 which empowers the agency as the competent authority in Nigeria,“ she pointed out.

According to Adeyeye, the agency is charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the quality of manufactured food products, their importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale, and consumption .

“Essentially, NAFDAC is mandated is to ensure that traded products are of good quality, safe and wholesome,“ she pointed out.

The NAFDAC director general said that the Port Inspection Directorate of the agency had met with the Chairman of Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS).

“The directorate has also met with the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS), Area Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Services at the Ports, advocacy visits were made to export sheds at the seaports, airports and land boarders,” she said.

She, however, expressed her appreciation in respect of the activities of PIAs, the main actors in the export processing chain.

She said that the coming together of critical stakeholders would enhance the non-oil sector, making it better and more robust.

According to her, NAFDAC seeks to enhance export trade encouraging and supporting trade in quality products.

She assured PIAs and other sister agencies, including Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) of quality collaboration.

Adeyeye disclosed that cocoa beans, sesame seeds, cashew and seven other products topped the list of agricultural commodities Nigeria exported in the first nine months of 2022, generating N427.6 billion or $1.02 billion.

She disclosed that the European Union (EU) would reject consignments containing foods that did not comply with EU maximum residue limits for veterinary medicine and pesticides and maximum limits (MLs) for contaminants in foods.

Adeyeye, however, maintained that tightening the regulatory and inspection regime for exports of food items and agricultural products was one of the ways to address export rejections.

According to her, all relevant government agencies and associations involved in Nigeria’s exports must ensure that agro products meet specified international standards, are safe and are of good quality.

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NAFDAC seals contraband tomato paste distribution outlet

Port Harcourt, May 18, 2023: The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday sealed a facility of imported contraband tomato paste distribution way house in Rivers.

Mr Adeniran Kazeem,the NAFDAC Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, Apapa Lagos, made this known to Newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Kazeem said this after the arrest of Mr Obiora John, the Managing  Director of Integrated Wholesales Services Limited in Trans-Amadi Layout who allegedly import and distribute contraband tomato paste which is in the federal government list of contraband importation products in the country.

Kazeem also stated that Obiora John allegedly removed seal placed on his facility by the agency on Novermber 2022.

“Upon our interrogation, we noticed that the company removed the agency seal placed at the facility on November 2022 without the agency approval.

“The company’s accountant told us that the company had stopped importation and distribution of contraband tomato paste since 2020, but we found out that the imported tomato paste seen at the facility was manufactured in 2022.

“We also found out from the company’s records that there have been importation and distribution of the products till date,” he explained.

Kazeem said that the agency aim of raiding and sealing of contraband drinks and food distribution companies in the country was to promote, encourage and create enabling environment for local manufacturers.

He advised members of the public to stop patronizing the distributors of imported contraband products in the stores and open market.

According to him, the suspect have been arrested, the agency will further investigate and prosecute him, am also advising the importers of contraband drinks, foods and other products to desist from the act or face the consequences.

He assured that the agency would curb the importation of illicit and contraband products into the country to save the economy.

Mr Obiora John, the Managing Director of Integrated Wholesales Services Limited, at Trans-Amadi industrial layout, said that the company is operating sketchy business to hold their clients till the company starts production at the newly built production factory.

John said that he removed the seal placed on his facility by the agency because he thought that he can remove the seal after a payment through remittance to the agency.

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NAFDAC pledges to support NMSMEs business for economic growth

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has pledged to support the Nano Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs) to enable it grow the nation’s economy.

A statement by NAFDAC resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, on Tuesday stated that the agency Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, made the disclosure at a meeting recently in Lagos.

According to the D-G, NAFDAC will continue to drive collaboration and understanding between NMSMEs and its regulatory authority with a view to empowering them in terms of the next step for their businesses.

Adeyeye said that NAFDAC remain committed to meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the business community, adding that the gains and impact of subjecting products and services to regulatory scrutiny was vital.

The D-G said that such regulatory scrutiny was all about protecting  businesses and their environment.

‘’When I see you, I see myself because I was raised up trading with my mother, with my grandmother selling things. I know how hard it is to put money together and trade.

“I know how hard it is or the anxious moments that the average trader has, wondering whether he or she is going to have profit,” she said.

She said that NMSMEs was capable to drive the economy of Nigeria, adding that Nigeria had a recession few years ago and still came out of it despite all the odds and the challenges of the mega industry.

“’How did we come out of it quickly?’’ asking rhetorically, as she said that NMSMEs sub-sector was the magic wand that sustained the economy during the turbulent times.

She said that this was possible because of the mandate from the agency on food, packaged water, cosmetics and others.

Adeyeye said that three of the agency’s mandate are under NMSMEs along with chemicals herbals regulations, adding that the agency does not take NMSMEs matter lightly.

She said that operators of NMSMEs should always focus on one product that is well accepted by the consumers rather than manufacturing many products at the same time where none would be accepted.

She admonished NMSMEs operators to dream big by entering the global market with their products, adding that commercial opportunities and benefits are abound for products that have been subjected to regulatory scrutiny.

According to her, one of such opportunities is the possibility of exporting such goods and that exportation comes with quality of such goods.

She said that the agency is on ground to work with NMSMEs to take its trading to an higher level, adding that they must not only think of what to consume, but what that could be exported.

Adeyeye disclosed that the agency was already talking with the United Kingdom Department of Business and Trade to build a bilateral relationship where Nigerian products that are exported to the UK would be of quality having been registered with NAFDAC.

She regretted the incidence of rejected food exports from Nigeria at the point of entry due to bad quality, adding that if such food items were subjected to NAFDAC scrutiny, the incidents would have been curtailed.

’”Please let’s think of the future or where we can take our products  to, Nigerians abroad are concerned about what we are doing in terms of food that we are exporting.

‘’Some of our people cannot live without eating Eba, (Cassava flour) Pounded yam or Amala (Yam flour). Some people cannot cook without palm oil. There are a lot of opportunities for us to tap into,” she stressed.

She insisted that the agency must continue to do testing of food and others to make sure that whatever is put out there first, is not going to harm whoever is taking it.

The D-G assured NMSMEs of continued support of NAFDAC, emphasizing that staff of the agency are being trained not to compromise, and to hold customers with high esteem based on quality management system.

She equally assured business owners who are desirous of entering the marketplace with NAFDAC regulated products of maximum support, saying the agency would provide them with necessary guidance, and support.

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NAFDAC recalls 231 cases of dark chocolate covered cherries

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is hereby notifying Nigerians about the recall of 231 cases of dark chocolate covered cherries by Torn and Glasser of Pomona.

The recall of the product with 2,772 units is made known in a public alert with No. 023/2022, signed by the Director General of the agency, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, in Abuja on Thursday.

The alert said that the recall of the product was due to an undeclared allergen, and that it may also contain dark chocolate Almonds which are Tree Nuts (Almond) allergen.

According to the alert, the dark chocolate covered cherries were sold at Sprouts farmer market stores in the following under the Sprouts farmer market brand from Nov. 3, 2021 in the following states, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah.

The alert stated that people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

It added that the recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing dark chocolate covered cherries was mixed with dark chocolate covered Almonds in the bag.

The alert disclosed that subsequent investigation indicates that some dark chocolate covered Almonds were used for dark Chocolate covered cherries by production personnel.

NAFDAC in the alert called on anyone who have suffered allergic reaction from consuming this product batch, should seek immediate medical advice from a healthcare professional.

It also encouraged consumers to report adverse side effects related to the use of any regulated product to the nearest NAFDAC office, or NAFDAC PRASCOR (20543 TOLL FREE from all networks).

NAFDAC encouraged the Nigerians to also report any effect of the product via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng or via the NAFDAC ADR e-Reporting platform available at www.nafdac.gov.ng

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NAFDAC prevents dangerous Ponmo  from circulation

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Sunday said it has intercepted a large quantity of dangerous animal hides and skins popularly known as ‘Ponmo’ in Lagos.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, in a statement issued by the Agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola said the seven merchants of the deadly ponmo have been arrested.

Adeyeye however warned, the general public, particularly consumers of Ponmo against the activities of some unscrupulous businessmen and traders who are selling industrial animal hides as food articles.

She said that NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement officials swiftly carried out intelligence gathering around certain locations where the alleged products were being warehoused and sold.

The D-G said the development was in response to several complaints received from the public, pertaining to alleged sale and distribution of imported hides and skins meant for use in leather industries.

She added that the deadly hides and skins already processed with industrial chemicals are then sold to unsuspecting public as consumable animal skin ( Ponmo).

According to her, ” Monitoring was also extended to some buyers who patronize the sellers and custodians of the warehouse.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that some of the hides and skins were imported illegally and sometimes diverted to some merchants who re-process them and sell to the public as ponmo.

“The street value of the product currently intercepted is estimated to be around N25.330m only.”

Adeyeye said In the light of these discoveries, NAFDAC recently conducted investigative raids upon some identified locations in Lagos where traders were found clustered for purchase of leftovers from the warehouses.

She disclosed that 120 tons of the products were intercepted at six different locations, stressing that seven suspects who were alleged to be involved in the acts are currently under investigation.

The NAFDAC boss further explained that samples of the products have been sent to the laboratory for testing so as to ascertain the products quality and unwholesomeness.

According to her, the intervention would help the Agency deal with the interaction and the dangers associated with the consumption of these products.

Adeyeye alerted the general public on the existence of these merchants of death and their nefarious activities as she warned Nigerians to exercise caution when buying animal hides, popularly known as Ponmo.

“NAFDAC wishes to advise consumers and retailers of Ponmo not to patronize importers of hides and skins for consumable animal skins,” she said.

She further warned that the hides, are pre-treated with industrial chemicals which are not of food grade will be toxic and injurious to human health.

Adeyeye said the health hazards inherent in the consumption of such animal hides include risk of Liver, Kidney and Heart damage, increased risk of Aplastic anemia, Central nervous system toxicity, Cancer, among others.

“The general public is hereby encouraged to be very vigilant and exercise discretion when purchasing animal hides PONMO and indeed other food items.

“NAFDAC is fully alive to her responsibilities of assuring the safety, wholesomeness, and quality of processed foods offered for sale to the public”, Adeyeye said.

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NAFDAC emphasis importance, contributions of small scale enterprises

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Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has said that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were too critical a sector to be ignored.
A statement by the Agency’s resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, in Abuja, quoted Adeyeye as reiterating the important role MSMEs played in the nation ‘s economy.
The DG pledged that the agency would continue to render its support to enable them continue to act as catalysts to economic rejuvenation.
The Director General (DG) said that globally MSMEs had contributed up to 45 per cent of total employment and 33 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in emerging economies.
“In a recent review of a 2017 survey on MSMEs, it is revealed that in Nigeria, there were 41.4 million MSMEs and about 99 per cent belong to the micro sub-sector, which is the bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialization.
“This is the most important component of industrialisation as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the federal government, the significance of MSMEs in the nation’s economy is critical.
Adeyeye urged entrepreneurs to be patient in obtaining NAFDAC’s certification before exporting goods, especially in the light of the revamped relationship between them and the agency in recent times.
“NAFDAC’s timeline for the processing of products for registration is 90 days and there is consistent efforts to ensure timelines are met, amongst which are the deployment of a robust e-registration platform.
“The e-registration platform is called NAFDAC Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS), which has the capacity for monitoring and assessment of timelines,” Adeyeye said.
She explained that If anybody went online to start the e-registration process and encountered any challenge, “there is an online assistant that is always ready help in case of any challenge during the registration”.
Some people who have products that they think they can export, take shortcuts and they don’t also go to NAFDAC to test their products before they are exported.
“Thereafter, the government of the receiving country stops the product, and they reject it and destroy it, we all need to learn not to take shortcuts.
“This agency will not compromise global best practices and standard under the guise of placating its clients, who have refused to follow due process to get the required identification certification”, the NAFDAC DG said.
Adeyeye encouraged entrepreneurs to always wait for a duration of four and a half months to get their products registered.
She added that some of the compliance issues that were frequently observed ranged from labelling lapses, inadequate documentation, increased product analysis failure rate and product rejects, especially with highly sensitive products.
However, the NAFDAC DG observed that the ongoing trainings and re-trainings of prospective NAFDAC applicants/MSMEs entrepreneurs on principles of good agricultural practices and others were yielding the desired reduction of such failures.
On the granting of approval for MSME production sites, the NAFDAC boss said that if a site designated for manufacturing and packaging was found to be filthy for the prospective product, NAFDAC would not approve such site.
She, therefore, admonished MSMEs owners to always ensure that they complied with all relevant government policies and regulations; collaborate more amongst themselves, to jointly engage government constructively.
Adeyeye noted that if there was a sector that had got the most needed support from NAFDAC, “it is the MSMEs, with the reduction in the registration fee by 80 per cent within six months in the year 2020.”
The first 200 applicants received zero registration fee, she said, adding that the agency also waived late renewal fees for those whose NAFDAC registration licenses expired during the same period.
According to her, the palliative given to the MSME sector in 2020 was not given to any other sector, because of its importance to the nation’s economy.

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NAFDAC, chemical producers move to boost foreign exchange

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 The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and manufacturers of chemical products in Nigeria have agreed to explore the international market with chemical products to enhance the nation’s foreign exchange earnings to boost the country economy.

A statement signed by the agency resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, stated that NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this during a virtual stakeholders’ meeting with chemical manufacturers.

Adeyeye said that the product would also serve as a potent catalyst for industrial growth, adding that, the current focus of the NAFDAC management was to ensure the agency’s regulatory activities was in line with international best practices.

She said that the aim of the stakeholders meeting was to sensitised, enlightened, and creating awareness on the current trends in the regulation of the manufacture of chemicals with emphasis on the need to be listed as a Chemical Manufacturer in Nigeria.

The NAFDAC boss noted that chemical evaluation and research directorate has the mandate to safeguard public health by ensuring that only the right quality chemicals are manufactured, imported, exported, distributed, sold and used in Nigeria.

Adeyeye disclosed that the directorate has put in place effective regulations and guidelines for sound chemical management in Nigeria, saying that, this was achieved by ensuring proper utilization of chemicals in a manner that reduces risk to health and environment.

She said that it also advocate for use of chemicals that are less harmful and hazardous, adding that, a portal had been created by the agency for registration of chemical products for effective quality control and strict adherence to international best practices.

She further said that chemical products manufactured in Nigeria would enjoy wider acceptability and high competitiveness with the NAFDAC registration identity.

According to her, penetrating the international market will bring growth to the industry, and more Nigerians will secure employment opportunities sequel to the expected expansion in the operations of the manufacturers.

‘’Chemicals no doubt play a pivotal role in the economic development of any country, Nigeria as an economy in transition has many needs of chemicals for her numerous industries.

“Some of these chemicals are now manufactured in the country and this creates an environment of heightened concern that NAFDAC is expected to play a leading role in strengthening chemical safety and security.

“The NAFDAC Act empowers the agency to undertake appropriate investigations into production premises and raw materials for food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals.

“The Act also empowered the agency to establish relevant quality assurance systems, including certificates of the production sites and of the regulated products,” she stressed.

Adeyeye further said that the law also compels all handlers of chemicals to adhere strictly to all the     stipulated guidelines for sound chemical management in order to safeguard our health and protect the environment.

According to her, this underscores the reason why the agency communicate any change in regulations to stakeholders.

She disclosed that listing of chemical manufacturers was initiated to address the existing gap in the regulation of the manufacture of chemicals in Nigeria, adding that, manufacturers required to be listed as a chemical manufacturer.

She said that those involved in the manufacture of specialty chemicals, laboratory chemicals, industrial chemicals, inks, paints, adhesives, wood preservatives, polishers, cleaning chemicals, agrochemicals, biocides, fertilizers and others also need to be listed.

She noted that the use of Chemicals has increased geometrically in the past years in Nigeria resulting in the increase in local manufacturing capabilities.

She said that the increase in production has led to the growth in the chemical industry in Nigeria, and that the safe and secured management of chemical in the manufacturing sector was an issue that requires a collaborative effort between the regulators and the industry.

The statement also quoted Mr Pieter De-Konnick, a Belgian, who is the Managing Director of Brenntag Chemical Nigeria Limited, producers of liquid caustic Soda, commending NAFDAC for the initiatives.

According to De-Konnick, NAFDAC’s involvement in regulating the chemical manufacturing sector will bring it to limelight and reposition the Nigeria chemical industry for economic growth.

“’This is my eighth year in Nigeria; this is the best thing that has happened to me in this industry, the NAFDAC is wonderful in its drive to regulate this industry,” he said.

The statement also quoted Ed the Chief Executive Officer of Unikem Industries Limited, producers of Ethanol from cassava, Mr Uzor Kalu and Mr Paul Audu, Managing Director of Roychem Industries Limited, as saying that the hitherto bottlenecks in procuring NAFDAC Import Permit has disappeared.

They both noted that since Adeyeye became NAFDAC boss, import permit and removal certificates were often done easy, and often have a plan to activate the year.

“The introduction of online platform via electronic process by Adeyeye had made application and processing of the vital import documents completed in the last quarter of every year, while manufacturers already have the documentation done in readiness for the new year.