Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • NAFDAC to effect measures against influx of unregistered alcohol–DG

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it will put necessary measures in place to control influx of unregistered alcohol drinks in Nigerian markets.

    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

    “Efforts are being made by NAFDAC to control such products by holding back on further registration of alcohol in such packaging,’’ she said.

    Adeyeye explained that this was part of her submissions at the just concluded 41st session of Codex Alimentarious Commission (CAC) in Rome, Italy.

    The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an intergovernmental body with over 180 members, within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    It was to protect the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade and promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

    “Alcohol is available in sachets in Nigeria and these products are dangerous to children due to ease of accessibility.

    “Harmful use of alcohol is a major obstacle to sustainable development. It has an impact on the health and well-being of the drinkers and their friends, family, colleagues.

    “And it can damage the social and economic fabric of the society.”

    The NAFDAC boss stated that harmful use of alcohol was a causal factor in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions affecting maternal health and child development.

    According to her, it is also the cause of some non-communicable diseases and conditions such as cancer, adding that a drunkard could easily turn violence on road and cause accident.

    The NAFDAC boss explained that there was the tendency for drunkard to engenge in unprotected sexual activities which could predispose him or her to infectious diseases such as TB and HIV/AIDS.

    Adeyeye described Codex Alimentarius as a collection of internationally adopted food standards and related texts presented in a uniform manner.

    She said that these food standards and related texts were aimed at protecting consumers’ health and ensuring fair practices in the food trade.

    “This is consistent with the mandate of NAFDAC which include; to regulate and control importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food among others.

  • NAFDAC to effect measures against influx of unregistered alcohol–DG

    NAFDAC to effect measures against influx of unregistered alcohol–DG

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it will put necessary measures in place to control influx of unregistered alcohol drinks in Nigerian markets.

    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

    “Efforts are being made by NAFDAC to control such products by holding back on further registration of alcohol in such packaging,’’ she said.

    Adeyeye explained that this was part of her submissions at the just concluded 41st session of Codex Alimentarious Commission (CAC) in Rome, Italy.

    The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an intergovernmental body with over 180 members, within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    It was to protect the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade and promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

    “Alcohol is available in sachets in Nigeria and these products are dangerous to children due to ease of accessibility.

    “Harmful use of alcohol is a major obstacle to sustainable development. It has an impact on the health and well-being of the drinkers and their friends, family, colleagues.

    “And it can damage the social and economic fabric of the society.”

    The NAFDAC boss stated that harmful use of alcohol was a causal factor in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions affecting maternal health and child development.

    According to her, it is also the cause of some non-communicable diseases and conditions such as cancer, adding that a drunkard could easily turn violence on road and cause accident.

    The NAFDAC boss explained that there was the tendency for drunkard to engenge in unprotected sexual activities which could predispose him or her to infectious diseases such as TB and HIV/AIDS.

    Adeyeye described Codex Alimentarius as a collection of internationally adopted food standards and related texts presented in a uniform manner.

    She said that these food standards and related texts were aimed at protecting consumers’ health and ensuring fair practices in the food trade.

    “This is consistent with the mandate of NAFDAC which include; to regulate and control importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food among others. (NAN)
    Edited by Dada Ahmed

  • NAFDAC nabs kingpin over supply of fake insecticides

    NAFDAC nabs kingpin over supply of fake insecticides

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The National Agency for Food and Drug administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it arrested a kingpin behind the supply of fake insecticides in Port Harcourt.

    The NAFDAC’s Public Relations Officer, South Zone, Mr Cyril Monye, announced this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    Monye explained that one Ebuka Ugwuanyi was arrested while 110 cartons of the product worth more than two million naira were recovered.

    He said that the Rivers office of NAFDAC recorded the milestone, after a successful raid and mop up of fake ‘Read A Dream’ insecticide in Port Harcourt.

    According to him, the fake insecticide is a clone of the original but with questionable active
    ingredients which is foamy and watery.

    Monye said that the original product was imported and registered by CU-BAS INT’L (NIG) LTD.

    “The raid was sequel to a tip off which made NAFDAC officials to swing into action, visiting some part of
    Port Harcourt metropolis including Mile 1 Market, Diobu.

    “One of the arrested hawkers along Aba Road lead NAFDAC officials to a residential building at No. 38 Iguruta Road, Rumukurushi, Port Harcourt.

    “That was where a major breakthrough was made and 110 cartons of the product, worth more than two million naira were recovered in a two-bedroom apartment.

    He said they were recovered from the last floor of a two-storey building in custody of one Miss Peace Miller.

    He said that the fake product had been evacuated to NAFDAC Zonal office at Woji Road in GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt. (NAN)

  • Nafdac commences nationwide action against ripening fruit with carbide

    Nafdac commences nationwide action against ripening fruit with carbide

    By Rukky Adedeji

    Nafdac Boss, Prof. Moji Adeyeye has directed a nationwide operation  to tackle the menace of fruit ripening with calcium carbide and other dangerous chemicals.

    Flowerbudnews reports that the directive was contained in statement by Prof Adeyeye today in Abuja where she noted that the directive became imperative due to the increasing dangerous practice of sale and consumption of fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide.

    “farmers, traders and the general public that ripening fruits with calcium carbide is very dangerous to health and is a criminal offence, She stated.

    The Director-General said that the nationwide operation would help Nafdac against the “activities of unscrupulous traders involved in illegal artificial ripening of fruits using hazardous chemicals such as calcium carbide’’.

    Prof. Adeyeye said that anyone caught engaging in the illegal practice of ripening fruits with hazardous chemicals would henceforth be prosecuted.

    She advised the public to “examine fruits carefully to select the right fruit by observing the variation of colour.

    “If the fruit that you buy is too good among others in “near perfect” ripening color, it may have been ripened with calcium carbide’’, she added.

    Prof. Adeyeye noted that fruits were important for health as “it provides the body with micronutrients that improve immunity and prevent diseases among other benefits.

    “Fruit ripening is a unique aspect of plant development, which makes the fruit edible, softer, sweeter, more palatable, nutritious and attractive.

    “However, the consumption of fruits such as mango, banana, plantain, guava, orange, grape, etc or any other fruits ripened with calcium carbide is dangerous to health,, the Nafdac DG stated.

    She counselled that generally “fruits should be washed thoroughly under running water before consumption’’.

    Prof. Adeyeye urged members of the public to report suspected cases of carbide-ripened fruits to the nearest NAFDAC office or call 09094262773, 09094262772 and 08133630600

     

     

  • NAFDAC DG implements Agency-Wide Quality Management System (QMS) training to enhance productivity

    NAFDAC has commenced an  Agency-wide QMS training as part of the rebuilding process  began by the Director-General,  Prof. Moji Adeyeye few months ago.

    “The training is focused on the use of international standards for running the Agency with the purpose of placing a premium on the satisfaction of end-users or stakeholders of NAFDAC’s regulatory controls,” Prof. Adeyeye said on Monday in Abuja., adding that the overall “goal is to safeguard the health of Nigeria’s population”.

    Prof. Adeyeye reiterated her determination to ensure that NAFDAC is certified by the International Standard Organisation for Standardization (ISO)  very soon in line with  ISO’s 90001- 2015 rule.

    The certification would help NAFDAC certified “imbibe a quality operation culture and be at par with other Regulatory Authorities worldwide”.

    “A major requirement to achieve this feat is that the Agency shall institute, implement and maintain an active QMS across all sections of its operations.

    “In addition to the above, the Agency also identified the need to use standardised documented procedures to improve all activities and better achieve its mandate of safeguarding the health of the nation.

    “This would include operating a system that will be; • Highly efficient in administration and people management • Active in internal auditing • Understand and practice professionalism • Practice the culture of accountability and performance evaluation • Supportive of ease of doing business in Nigeria aimed at the MSMEs • Effective in governance • Open to continual review and improvement. •

    “Responsible in accounting and finance In order to properly position the Agency to realise these goals, the Director General directed the institution and implementation of QMS across all NAFDAC Directorates in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 requirements.

    “A detailed work-plan has been developed to provide a road map to implementing QMS in the Agency, and ultimately attain ISO 9001:2015 certification.

    “A gap-assessment has been conducted on all NAFDAC Directorates between October 2016 and May, 2017 to determine lapses and proffer support where needed. Recommendations that arose from the report on this exercise are being addressed.

    “On 5th to 6th of March 2018, members of NAFDAC top and senior management including some other select members of staff were introduced to QMS principles and implementation.

    This took place to ensure that the Agency’s top and senior management understood the concept, significance and benefits of QMS. On 9-13th of April 2018, the already identified and trained QMS quality management from the directorates (known as the quality team) received Module 1 training that was sponsored by West African Health Organization (WAHO).

    The managers were charged to cascade the training to all NAFDAC offices – NAFDAC Headquarters, the FCT office and Lagos offices, Zone/State Offices In June and July, sensitization/training on Module 1 QMS Implementation was then cascaded down to NAFDAC Headquarters, the FCT and Lagos offices; all the six Geo-political Zones/and the 36 State Offices was completed in July 2018.

    West African Medicine Regulation Harmonization (WAMRH) sponsored part of the QMS training as part of the plan to assist five (5) ECOWAS countries in QMS toward ISO 90001:2015 certification.  FB- News

  • NAFDAC trains staff on quality management system

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has embarked on “Quality Management System’’ (QMS) training as part of rebuilding process to uphold standard.
    The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
    Adeyeye said that the training focused on the use of international standards for running the agency with the purpose of placing premium on satisfaction of end-users or stakeholders of NAFDAC’s regulatory controls.
    According to her, the goal is to safeguard the health of Nigerians.
    She explained that NAFDAC desired to be International Standard Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 90001- 2015 certified, to imbibe quality operation culture and be at par with other regulatory authorities worldwide.
    The director-general said that a major requirement to achieve the feat was that the agency should institute, implement and maintain an active QMS across all sections of its operations.
    “In addition to the above, the agency also identified the need to use standardised and documented procedures to improve all activities and achieve its mandate of safeguarding the health of the nation.
    “This would include operating a system that will be highly efficient in administration and active in internal auditing.’’
    The NAFDAC boss said that a detailed work-plan had been developed to provide a road map to implement QMS in the agency, and ultimately attain ISO 9001:2015 certification.
    According to her, a gap-assessment has been conducted on all NAFDAC directorates between October 2016 and May 2017, to determine lapses and proffer support where needed.
    She added that the recommendations from the report on the exercise were being addressed. (NAN)

  • NAFDAC cautions Nigerians on antimicrobial resistance

    NAFDAC cautions Nigerians on antimicrobial resistance

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned the general public on the usage of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

    The AMR is regarded as the ability of Pathogenic Microorganism to resist the effect of anti-microbial agents when used to treat internal or external infection.

    The incidence of AMR leads to treatment failure or infections that cannot be easily treated could lead to death and economic loss.

    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, who gave the warning in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said AMR had become a global concern to both human and animal.

    Adeyeye said that this was a real problem in Nigeria because people were fond of not finishing antibiotic medication or buy only what could be afforded.

    “In a local hospital in Nigeria, it was reported that many neonates or new-born acquire AMR from the mothers during childbirth.

    “The child’s infection ended up not responding to treatment with the usual antibiotics.

    “Many children have died as a result. This is not unique to the hospital,’’ she explained.

    Adeyeye said that she had directed the 14 directorates of NAFDAC to interact more with the Nigerian public through awareness and education on food or drug-related public health issues.

    “On this note NAFDAC wishes to draw the attention of the general public to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), a subject that has become a global concern to both human and animal,’’ she said.

    According to her, one of the causes is by using antimicrobial agents when not needed and this can make the pathogenic microorganism develop resistance.

    She said that others were proliferation and use of fake, adulterated, and substandard antimicrobial agents that would result in exposure of pathogenic microorganism to sub-clinical or no dosage of antimicrobial agents.

    She added that misuse resulting from overuse and under-use of antimicrobial agents were implicated in the increasing trend of resistant pathogens in both human and animal populations. (NAN)

  • NAFDAC destroys N650m counterfeit goods in Kaduna

    By Stella Kabruk
    The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, counterfeit, sub-standard and expired drugs worth N650 million in Kaduna.

    The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, said at the destruction site in Buruku, Kaduna State, that the products were substandard, falsely labelled medicines, unwholesome food products and cosmetics.
    Others were counterfeited unsafe NAFDAC regulated products by the agency from manufacturers, importers and distributors.

    Represented by the North West Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Mr Gimba Dauda, she said the exercise was part of efforts to stop spurious NAFDAC regulated products from circulation in Nigeria.

    “The products being destroyed today are made of substandard and falsely labelled medicines, unwholesome food products, cosmetics and other counterfeited products.

    “Drug counterfeiting is an act of economic sabotage and also terrorism against public health,’’ the director-general said.
    Commending the Federal Government for banning the use of codeine syrup, Adeyeye said: “The decision is to ensuring the reduction in the abuse of the substance.
    “We have continued to aggressively pursue the goal that only genuine medicines and wholesome foods of the right qualities are imported, exported, manufactured and distributed.
    “We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for re-instating NAFDAC personnel to our ports of entry and borders.”
    She noted that the relentless effort of the federal government was helping in the increase seizures of counterfeited and substandard NAFDAC regulated products smuggled through the land borders.

    She said that NAFDAC has deepened its collaboration with agencies of government and stakeholders to end the spread of fake and counterfeited drugs in Nigeria.
    Part of the drugs, food, cosmetics and chemical destroyed included antibiotics, antimalarial, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer, herbal remedies and controlled substances.
    Others were Mom’s tomato paste, non-alcoholic beverages, maize flour, Eva complexion soap, hair cream and fake insecticides. (NAN)
    Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

  • NAFDAC seizes 3,300kg of contaminated frozen vegetables – DG

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it had seized 3,300kilograme of PINGUIN brand of frozen mixed vegetables across the country.

    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
    Adeyeye explained that she was informed on July 11 by Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN) that Rapid Alert System on Food and Feed (RASFF) had confirmed that the compromised food (frozen mixed vegetables) was shipped to Nigeria.

    She said that her agency immediately gave a directive for a nation-wide surveillance and NAFDAC’s FSAN directorate went into action and confirmed that some of the implicated products actually arrived Nigeria.
    “Teams dispatched to the field found large quantities of the implicated products and placed them on HOLD. Placing on HOLD means the item cannot be distributed or sold.

    “The outbreak of Listeriosisin Europe was linked to frozen corn and other frozen mixed vegetables.
    “Listeria monocytogenes, the causative agent of listeriosis can be found in many foods and examples include smoked fish, meats, cheeses (especially soft cheeses) and raw vegetables.

    “Consumption of contaminated food or feed is the main route of transmission to humans and animals. Infection that can lead to death may also occur through contact with infected animals or people,” she explained.

    Adeyeye stated that those vegetables seized by her agency would be destroyed, pointing out that with this health risks to the Nigerian public had been mitigated while further surveillance was still ongoing.

    The director-general therefore advised the general public to take precautionary measures and return all such frozen vegetables (PINGUIN BRAND) manufactured between Aug. 13, 2016, and June 20, 2018, to the nearest NAFDAC office for destruction. (NAN)

    Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola