Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has introduced additional measures to address the issue of unbranded cereals and other industrial-sized food items entering open markets, potentially originating from the warehouses of food manufacturing companies.
During an end-of-year stakeholders’ session with food manufacturing companies, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by Mrs. Eva Edwards, the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN), expressed concerns about the health hazards associated with unbranded milk and cereals being dispensed in unsanitary conditions in open markets.
Adeyeye noted that these items often reach the market due to companies applying to use them in the production of their NAFDAC-registered products. She emphasised the agency’s critical examination of the process of issuing permits for bulk food raw materials and announced additional measures to assess and verify the utilisation records of companies applying for import permits.
The agency intends to scrutinise previous import and utilisation records to ensure that companies are requesting quantities based on actual usage. The goal is to prevent the diversion of these bulk food items into open markets, promoting food safety and hygiene.
Adeyeye emphasised the importance of companies providing accurate records of utilisation and ensuring that requested quantities align with actual business needs. NAFDAC aims to strike a balance between business growth and preventing unhygienic practices in the open market.
The chairman of the Technical Committee of the Association of Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), Mr. Fred Chiazor, commended NAFDAC for its proactive approach in responding to industry developments, emphasising collaboration between the agency and stakeholders for mutual benefits and industry growth.