The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on businesses to adhere strictly to health and safety regulations, emphasizing the need for accurate branding and proper handling of regulated products. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the Northwest Zone Director, Nantin Dadi, made this statement during a panel session at the 2024 African Retail Congress in Lagos.
Dadi highlighted the extensive regulations governing products such as processed foods, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, herbal products, and chemicals. He urged businesses to familiarize themselves with both local and international regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance during manufacturing, storage, and distribution processes. Dadi warned that non-compliance could lead to severe financial losses, stating that an enforcement officer could disrupt operations, potentially causing losses of up to N20 million by shutting down a distribution network for just a week.
Retailers were encouraged to conduct regulatory mapping when expanding into new markets by identifying relevant agencies, such as NAFDAC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. This practice would minimize conflicts and improve operational efficiency. Dadi also emphasized the consequences of poor storage practices and the sale of unregistered products, giving an example where failure to store yogurt in a refrigerator could result in administrative fines and product seizure to protect consumers from contamination.
The agency expressed concerns about misleading product labels and false claims. Dadi stressed the importance of accurate labeling, as it serves as the first point of contact between the consumer and the product. He cautioned businesses against making unverified claims, such as suggesting a product cures all diseases without evidence, as such products would be removed from the market.
NAFDAC urged businesses to utilize its resources, including its website, to understand and comply with regulations. Dadi emphasized the agency’s role in protecting consumers, citing an example where a product labeled to contain 68% protein was tested and found to contain only 21%. In such cases, businesses would be required to correct misleading information. He reiterated that accurate representation of product content is essential for building consumer trust and ensuring public safety.
