The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged small businesses to uphold health and safety standards by ensuring accurate product labeling and adhering to handling regulations for controlled items.
Speaking at the 2024 African Retail Congress in Lagos, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC Director-General—represented by Nantin Dadi, Director of the Northwest Zone—emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance. “Every product has laws governing it, especially items like processed foods, medicines, cosmetics, and packaged water,” Dadi stated.
Dadi highlighted that failure to comply with these standards could lead to substantial losses for businesses, stressing, “An enforcement officer could halt operations by citing a regulation, potentially costing millions.”
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To help prevent such issues, Dadi advised businesses expanding into new markets to identify all relevant regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to maintain compliance and avoid setbacks.
Additionally, he urged business owners to ensure proper storage of regulated goods and avoid selling unregistered products. “For instance, selling yoghurt without refrigeration can result in penalties and product seizure,” Dadi noted, stressing the role of good storage practices in consumer safety.
NAFDAC also expressed concern about misleading product claims, encouraging small businesses to prioritize transparent labeling. “Labels are the consumer’s first interaction with a product. Any exaggerated claims will be flagged,” Dadi said. He encouraged businesses to leverage NAFDAC’s online resources for regulatory guidance.
“Consumers depend on our oversight to ensure product claims are accurate. Misrepresentation, such as incorrect protein content on labels, will be corrected to protect buyers,” he added.
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