"It's Not Surprising" NAFDAC Explains Why UK Rejected 68 Nigerian Foods

• NAFDAC has clarified why the UK rejected some Nigerian foods exported to the country
• The agency attributed the development to exporters' non-compliance with established standards
• It added that all exported food items were processed without the required testing

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has implemented measures to resolve concerns about the ongoing rejection of Nigerian foods exported abroad.

The poor quality of food goods exported from Nigeria, according to NAFDAC, has drawn a lot of criticism in global markets.

BusinessDay reported that numerous culinary items have been turned down as a result of this.

Why Nigerian foods are rejected

According to Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of NAFDAC, some of the reasons why Nigerian food items are rejected in the United Kingdom are due to non-compliance with standards provided by the organisation and a lack of compliance with minimal hygienic procedures.

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Adeyeye also revealed that this year, 68 different Nigerian food products were turned down in the UK and other EU nations.

She said due to inadequate reporting mechanisms, the figure might be greater.

Adeyeye bemoaned the fact that practically all exported food goods were processed without NAFDAC performing the required testing.

She said:

“The challenges bedeviling the export process of NAFDAC regulated products, especially, assuring safety and quality status of food exports in Nigeria, has been traced to non-compliance with advisory guidelines established by NAFDAC to encourage participatory exports.

“Almost all exported food products are processed without statutory testing by NAFDAC. Therefore, it is not surprising that all the items exported without NAFDAC quality control and safety tests are rejected,”

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Adeyeye disclosed that the UK Food Standard Agency and NAFDAC had worked together to put measures in place to prevent the rejection of Nigerian food goods on the global market.

Six regulatory measures to be implemented

To address the issue, the agency announced that it would start six regulatory measures, including the immediate implementation of NAFDAC Good Manufacturing Practises (GMP), and Good Hygienic practices (GHP).

Others include Laboratory testing such as mycotoxin, pesticide residue, and heavy metals certification for regulated food and drug products.

NAFDAC also said it would also carry out the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) on some of the foods.

This, it said, would be monitored by the Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs) chosen by the Federal Government.

Other actions listed include engaging the Comptroller General of Customs as the new administrator of the Nigeria Single Window Trade site and including NAFDAC in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) export proceed (NXP) form processing.

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Adeyeye revealed that the regulation was already posted on NAFDAC's website and that exporters, trade groups, and professional bodies had received an electronic copy for their feedback.

Recall that NAFDAC earlier warned Nigerians about a killer cough syrup in Nigeria known as NATURCOLD.

NAFDAC Speaks on Erisco's Nagiko Tomato Mix Registration Status, Sugar Content

In an earlier report by Legit.ng, NAFDAC confirmed the registration status of Eriscofoods' Nagiko Tomato Mix and certification of its sugar content.

The agency's reaction came amid disagreement between the company and a customer, Chioma Egodi, who posted a product review alleging excessive sugar in Erisco Food's Nagiko Tomato Mix.

Egodi's review caused the product manufacturer to petition the Police for her arrest.

Source: Legit.ng