Category: Health and Environment

By Aderogba George

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

has reached out to pre-shipment inspection agents at Nigerian ports on the need for them to collaborate with a view to ensuring that export-bound foods are not rejected abroad.

The collaboration move was contained in a statement signed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and issued on Sunday by the agency’s Media Consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola.

The statement said that Adeyeye reached out to the pre-shipment agents at a consultative meeting held on Friday.

According to the statement, Adeyeye was represented at the meeting by Dr Abimbola Adegboye, Director, Port Inspection Directorate (PID), NAFDAC) and the Head, Office of Trade and International Relations (OTIR).

Adeyeye said the collaboration was in continuation of the search for a lasting solution to the problem of Nigerian non-oil exports which were being rejected abroad.

She said that the collaboration would revamp the export trade in the non-oil sector and reposition Nigeria in the global market.

The NAFDAC boss expressed the agency’s discomfort at the alarming rate at which Nigerian food exports were being rejected abroad.

She said the meeting was aimed at building effective collaboration with NAFDAC to complement its robust regulatory policies geared towards understanding the NAFDAC export processes.

Adeyeye said that the collaboration was also to safeguard a unified exportation procedure and zero rejection of Nigeria’s export products.

She lamented that NAFDAC, which she described as the competent authority on food safety matter with global accreditation in food safety testing, could be left out in the list of organisations whose inputs were required before Clean Certificate of Inspection (CCI) is issued by Pre-shipment Inspection Agents.

She said that there was high volume of rejection of Nigerian food products abroad because NAFDAC was not involved in the screening such products prior to their exportation.

“NAFDAC as a governmental agency was established by enabling Act Cap N1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 which empowers the agency as the competent authority in Nigeria,“ she pointed out.

According to Adeyeye, the agency is charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the quality of manufactured food products, their importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale, and consumption .

“Essentially, NAFDAC is mandated is to ensure that traded products are of good quality, safe and wholesome,“ she pointed out.

The NAFDAC director general said that the Port Inspection Directorate of the agency had met with the Chairman of Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS).

“The directorate has also met with the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS), Area Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Services at the Ports, advocacy visits were made to export sheds at the seaports, airports and land boarders,” she said.

She, however, expressed her appreciation in respect of the activities of PIAs, the main actors in the export processing chain.

She said that the coming together of critical stakeholders would enhance the non-oil sector, making it better and more robust.

According

to her, NAFDAC seeks to enhance export trade encouraging and supporting trade in quality products.

She assured PIAs and other sister agencies, including Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) of quality collaboration.

Adeyeye disclosed that cocoa beans, sesame seeds, cashew and seven other products topped the list of agricultural commodities Nigeria exported in the first nine months of 2022, generating N427.6 billion or $1.02 billion.

She disclosed that the European Union (EU) would reject consignments containing foods that did not comply with EU maximum residue limits for veterinary medicine and pesticides and maximum limits (MLs) for contaminants in foods.

Adeyeye, however, maintained that tightening the regulatory and inspection regime for exports of food items and agricultural products was one of the ways to address export rejections.

According to her, all relevant government agencies and associations involved in Nigeria’s exports must ensure that agro products meet specified international standards, are safe and are of good quality.

NAN

Flowerbudnews

By Biola Lawal

Abuja:  (Flowerbudnews)  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is set to hold Media Sensitisation Workshop in Abuja to further Enlighten Nigerians on Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Carbide

Flowerbudnews reports that the one-day event  sensitisation is the flag-off of NAFDAC Media Sensitization Workshop being organized for Nigeria Health Journalists in Abuja.

An invitation circulated for the event disclosed that the sensitisation workshop is holding with the theme: “The DANGERS OF DRUG HAWKING AND RIPENING OF FRUITS WITH CALCIUM CARBIDE”

The sensitisation workshop holds tomorrow, Tuesday 11th July, 2023 at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja, starting at 8.30am.

Flowerbudnews learnt that the event was part of the NAFDAC Director General, Prof Moji Adeyeye’s resolve to carry the media along in the Agency’s efforts to tackle the multi-various problems bedevilling the nation’s drug and food sector.

NAFDAC restated the Director-General’s unalloyed support to the Fourth Estate of the realm. (Flowerbudnews)

Flowerbudnews

By Biola Lawal

Abuja: (Flowerbudnews): The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control,(NAFDAC), Prof Moji Adeyeye has warned Nigerians on the  Dangers inherent in the ripening of  Fruits with Calcium Carbides.

Prof. Adeyeye who was speaking at the NAFDAC Media Sensitisation workshop on Tuesday in Abuja, stated that consumption of fruits ripened with carbide can cause deadly diseases such as cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure.

The NAFDAC Boss  also warned that ingestion of fruits ripened with calcium carbide ‘:may also cause frequent thirst, irritation in mouth and nose, weakness, permanent skin damage, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcer and so forth.’:

She added that Higher exposure might cause undesired fluid build-up in lungs (pulmonary oedema), stressing that Acetylene produced by Calcium Carbide affects the neurological system and reduces oxygen supply to the brain and further induces prolonged hypoxia.

Impurities from fruits ripened with calcium carbide ”are hazardous to pregnant women and children and may lead to headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral oedema (swelling in the brain caused by excessive fluids), sleepiness, seizure etc’ Prof Adeyeye further warned.

She stated that ‘:Calcium Carbide is alkaline in nature and erodes the mucosal tissue in the abdominal region and disrupts intestinal functions,” adding: ”consuming such artificially ripened fruits could result in sleeping disorders, mouth ulcers, skin rashes, kidney problems and possibly even cancer”.

”Other symptoms of poisoning include diarrhoea (with or without blood), burning or tingling sensation in abdomen and chest difficulty in swallowing, irritation in eyes/skin, sore throat, cough, shortness in breathing, numbness etc.” she disclosed

Prof. Adeyeye noted that ”ripening of fruits with carbides is another public challenge facing us today and the Agency has deployed a multifaceted approach to tackle the menace.”

”Fruits provide 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,” She stated.

However, the consumption of fruits such as mango, banana, plantain, guava, orange, grape, etc or any other fruits ripened with calcium carbide remained dangerous to health. the NAFDAC Boss declared.

”Fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide may be ripe on the skin, the inside remain unripe. You can identify such artificially ripened fruits if you notice that the fruits are all yellow whereas the stem is dark, this is true especially with banana and plantain.

”In addition, naturally ripened fruits usually have brown or black spots, while those artificially ripened have traces of powdery substances and peel off quickly.

”Effect of artificial ripening on fruit quality include but not limited to:
Considerable loss of properties such as colour, taste and feel, and such practice does not give the natural aroma and flavour to the fruits.

”These fruits do not possess uniform colour and are less juicy than when ripened naturally and have comparatively shorter shelf life.

”Calcium Carbide when sprayed with water reacts chemically to produce acetylene, which acts like ethylene and ripens fruits by a similar process. Calcium carbide generally contains impurities such as arsenic, lead particles, phosphorus, etc., that pose several very serious health hazards.” Prof Adeyeye warned.

On measures to combat the problem, the NAFDAC Boss said ”It is gratifying to announce that apart from sensitization campaigns and Enforcement activities, NAFDAC has commissioned a scientific study on the best approach towards mitigating the health hazards posed by ripening of fruits with carbides.

”I have mandated some of my directors and support staff to take these campaigns to the nooks and crannies of this country. We are confident of winning the war against these two hydra-headed public health menaces.

Declaring the Media Sensitization Workshop open, Prof Adeyeye  urged the media to assist NAFDAC in publicizing and disseminating knowledge acquired to the general public.

She thankef the media practitioners for their  collaboration and support for NAFDAC to rid the country of the menace of substandard and falsified medicines, unwholesome foods, corrosive cosmetics, and other substandard regulated products.  (Flowerbudnews)

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Wednesday in Lagos decried the nefarious activities of drug hawkers nationwide, warning that any hawker arrested by the agency will be prosecuted and will face a jail term.

Announcing this in Lagos, during a sensitisation workshop on Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Carbide” the director general of NAFDC, Prof Christianah Adeyeye said the agency’s enforcement officers are currently carrying out synchronised nationwide operation.

She maintained that no offender will be spared from facing the full wrath of the Law.

Represented by the Director of Chemical Evaluation & Research, Dr Leonard Omokpariola, she explained that the menace of drug hawking poses a serious challenge to Healthcare Delivery System, hence the need to totally eradicate the illicit trade.

Ädeyeye explained that many drug hawkers are knowingly or unknowingly merchants of death who expose essential and life-saving medicines to the vagaries of inclement weather which degrade the active ingredients of the medicine and turn them into poisons thus endangering human lives.

She said: “Most of the drugs sold by the hawkers are counterfeit, substandard or expired, and do not meet the quality, safety and efficacy requirement of regulated medicines. Prescription drugs are also sold by itinerant hawkers who also hold consultations, and recommend and prescribe medicines to their gullible “patients”.

She added that drug hawkers are also the major distributors and suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks such as Armed Bandits, Insurgents, Kidnappers and Armed Robbers and constitute a serious threat to national security.

Adeyeye who also raised the alarm about the indiscriminate ripening of fruits with calcium carbides by many fruit sellers in Nigeria, added that the Agency has deployed a multifaceted approach to tackle the menace.

“Fruits provide the body with micronutrients that improve immunity and prevent diseases among other benefits. 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.

You can identify such artificially ripened fruits if you notice that the fruits are all yellow whereas the stem is dark, this is true especially with banana and plantain. In addition, naturally ripened fruits usually have brown or black spots, while those artificially ripened have traces of powdery substances and peel off quickly.”

She traced the effect of artificial ripening on fruit quality to include considerable loss of properties such as colour, taste and feel, and natural aroma and flavour,

Adeyeye explained that generally contains impurities such as arsenic, lead particles, phosphorus, etc., that pose several very serious health hazards and consumption of fruits containing these impurities may cause cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure.

“They may also cause frequent thirst, irritation in mouth and nose, weakness, permanent skin damage, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcer and so forth. Higher exposure may cause undesired fluid build-up in the lungs. Acetylene produced by calcium carbide affects the neurological system and reduces oxygen supply to the brain and further induces prolonged hypoxia.

“The impurities are hazardous to pregnant women and children and may lead to headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral oedema (swelling in the brain caused by excessive fluids), sleepiness, seizure etc. Consuming such artificially ripened fruits could result in sleeping disorders, mouth ulcers, skin rashes, kidney problems and possibly even cancer.”

Flowerbudnews

By Biola Lawal

Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has established  an operational office in Ota town to move regulatory processes closer to stakeholders in the industrial town and its environs.

NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye noted that the establishment of the new office was in line with the Agency’s resolve and commitment  to bring regulatory operation closer to its customers.

”NAFDAC Second office in Ogun state has begun operations to bring regulation to customers’ doorstep in Ota/Agbara axis”, a statement by Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant disclosed.

Prof Adeyeye stated that the construction  of the new office ”is another great gesture to enhance and facilitate easier Regulatory Processes by;
– saving man hour loss to travel time,

”-saving vehicles and clients from the hazard of the very bad roads, -prompt attention to the demands of stakeholders in that environment as a result of proximity,

”-monitoring of regulatory products offered for sale in that environment and much more.

:’All stakeholders or intending stakeholders operating in the underlisted local govt areas can now access NAFDAC Ogun II office in Ota,
*Ado Odo,  Imeko Afo,  Ipokia, Yewa North, Yewa South, Ifo and Ewekoro
Ewekoro.

”The Ota Office is located at Plot 6, Block 1 Ogun State Housing Corporation Estate, Ota (behind mobile filling station at the Obasanjo Farms Junction)

Meanwhile, the Abeokuta new Office was recently commissioned, equipped, and strengthened for better service delivery to the stakeholders in the Ogun Central and Ogun East senatorial districts.

IT IS A NEW DAWN IN OGUN STATE, as NAFDAC eases the stress of Stakeholders through this magnanimity.  the statement stressed.(Flowerbudnews)6

Flowerbudnews

By Obinna Unaeze
Bida (Niger): The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Saturday confiscated expired and unregistered products worth more than N15 million in Niger.

Mr Shaba Mohammed, Director, North Central zone, NAFDAC, said this during the raiding of 24 business premises in Bida Local Government Area of Niger.

“We embarked on our routine visit to Bida, where we raided 24 business premises which included pharmacy outlets and supermarkets.
“During the raid, some expired and unregistered pharmaceutical products, including drugs, were seized.

“Some of the supermarkets harboured unregistered and expired beverage, soft drinks, vegetable oil, spaghetti, tomatoes paste and cosmetics which were also seized.
“The monetary value of the items seized is over N15 million,” he said.

Mohammed explained that during the exercise, two supermarkets and two pharmaceutical outlets were sealed for compromising standard in their businesses.

He said NAFDAC invited the affected persons to Minna for interrogation, adding that some of them would be sent to the enforcement directorate for further investigation, depending on the offence committed.

The Director advised the public to check for the production and expiration dates of any product they purchased, whether they are healthy for consumption.

“Make sure that the dates on the products have not been tampered with.

“We want to also use this opportunity to appeal to the public to always report any suspicious person engaging in unwholesome practices to the nearest NAFDAC office for necessary action,” he said.

He thanked the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, for helping the agency in the discharge of its duties in the area. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

Flowerbudnews

”Among these, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death, accounting for 17.5 million deaths annually.’ – Prof Adeyeye

By Biola Lawal
Ikeja (Flowerbudnews): NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye has disclosed that over 36 million people are dying annually from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) caused majorly by ingestion of Trans Fatty Acid (TFAs).

Prof. Adeyeye made the disclosure on Monday in Lagos at a world press conference held to announce the Federal Government’s gazetting of Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and oil Regulation 2022.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Boss also announced the gazetting of the pre-packaged food labelling Regulation, 2022, all designed to protect the health of the Public

Prof Adeyeye said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics indicated that non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, are collectively responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide.

” In real terms, more than 36 million people die annually from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Among these, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death, accounting for 17.5 million deaths annually,” the NAFDAC Boss stated.

”In this category, high blood pressure leads as a risk factor. CVDs are disorders of the heart and blood vessels, and they include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, among other conditions.

”Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease are collectively responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide.

”NCDs are estimated to account for about a quarter of total death in Nigeria. The probability of dying between ages 30 & 70 years from the main NCDs is 20%

”At the 2018 World Health Assembly in Geneva the WHO called on countries to eliminate industrially-produced Trans fats Trans Fatty Acid (TFAs) from global food supplies.

” Agency released an action package called REPLACE that includes policy recommendations and interventions for governments to pursue.

”W.H.O has recommended one of these two policy pathways for implementation
Banning the use of partially hydrogenated oils, that is the source of industrially produced TFAs, in all foods OR Setting limits on the amount of industrially produced TFAs produced to not more than 2% of the total fat content in all Foods.” Prof Adeyeye stated.

She said further that ”NAFDAC with the co-operation, collaboration and support of the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Justice and the Trans-Fat Coalition Partners in Nigeria have worked assiduously towards achieving the two-prong pathways.

”The coalition partners include but not limited to Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).”

The NAFDAC Boss said, ”I am delighted to announce the followings:
That in Nigeria we are already working with the industry and our partners to find alternative source to the existing partially hydrogenated oils that are the source of industrially produced Trans-fats. (iTFA)

”Most importantly we have reviewed the Fats and Oil regulation 2005 and we have a newly gazetted reviewed regulation known as Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022.

””This regulation has addressed the second pathway for elimination of industrially iTFAs with the limit of not more than 2% (0.02ppm) of the total fats in a fat, oil and food containing fats and oil products as recommended by WHO

”In addition, the Pre-packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2005 has also been reviewed to take care of the labelling requirement for Trans-fats hence we now have a reviewed and gazetted Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022,”” Prof Adeyeye stated.

She disclosed that ”the arrangement of the Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022 include:
Regulations
1. Scope of application
2. Source of edible fats and oils
3. Vitamin A fortification
4. Additives
5. Impurities
4. Labelling of fats and oils products
5. Labelling limits and claims for trans-fats and cholesterol”

Others are:
6. Classification, definition and specification of fats and oils
7. Prohibition
8. Offences and penalties
9. Forfeiture after conviction
10. Revocation
11. Interpretation
12. Citation

She however, declared that ”the emergence of these two reviewed regulations implies that the 2005 versions of these two regulations stands as repealed regulations without jeopardy from whatever was purportedly done in the spirit of the old versions”

Prof Adeyeye said that ”NAFDAC is poised to fully implement and utilised the regulations to protect the health of the public”. (Flowerbudnews)