The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced its intention to review sanctions for exporters of substandard products. NAFDAC's Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, expressed her dissatisfaction with the prevalence of substandard goods being rejected in foreign countries during a news conference on Tuesday.

Adeyeye stated that the agency had identified several reasons for this issue, including non-compliance with advisory guidelines established by NAFDAC to encourage participatory exports. She highlighted that most exported food products were processed without undergoing the mandatory testing by NAFDAC, leading to their rejection in foreign markets.

Other reasons identified by NAFDAC included the failure to utilize the previously free laboratory testing services provided by NAFDAC for export samples, as well as the collaboration of unscrupulous agents. Additionally, the exclusion of NAFDAC's requirements for regulated products in the mandatory pre-shipment inspection under the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) was noted.

Adeyeye emphasized that some exporters were unwilling to comply with minimal sanitary and phytosanitary measures required for exports to countries with stringent market access. Poor packaging by some manufacturers and the disregard for importation requirements of trading partner countries were also mentioned as contributing factors.

To address these challenges, NAFDAC plans to implement six regulatory measures. These include the immediate inclusion and implementation of NAFDAC Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygienic Practices (GHP), and laboratory testing such as mycotoxin, pesticide residue, and heavy metals certification for regulated food and drug products. The agency will also conduct the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) on some products through the Federal Government-appointed Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs).

Furthermore, NAFDAC aims to be included in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) export proceed (NXP) form processing and engage with the Comptroller General of Customs as the new administrator of the Nigeria Single Window Trade portal. The agency will strengthen in-country regulatory infrastructures on export by introducing NAFDAC Regulations on Export in 2022. Adeyeye mentioned that the regulation is already available on the NAFDAC website for stakeholders to provide their inputs and comments within the next 60 days.

NAFDAC also plans to collaborate with the Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC) regarding the regulation of goods. Adeyeye emphasized that the agency will continue conducting awareness and sensitization meetings with export trade operators to ensure compliance with NAFDAC guidelines for regulated products.

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