In this post we will look at the 7 most prominent functions of NAFDAC. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is an agency of the federal government of Nigeria, working under direct supervision of  the Federal Ministry of Health.

This federal government agency, NAFDAC is saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding the health of Nigerian citizenry and everyone resident in Nigeria.

National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control NAFDAC regulates and controls the manufacturing, and the importation, and the exportation, and the advertisement, and the distribution, and the sale and use of food and drugs and cosmetics and medical devices and chemicals and packaged water.

National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control NAFDAC believes that, through its activities by carrying out its statutory functions and perhaps, by making public its role, all sectors of the economy that are into manufacturing of food and drugs or importing or exporting food, cosmetics, and medical devices, or advertising food, drugs, medical products, even chemicals and bottled water, would be extremely careful carrying out their businesses in this sector,

By so doing they would be compelled to comply with and respect the existing rules and regulations guiding businesses within this sector, as well as, what it take to encourage healthy living among Nigerians and the availability sanctions.

What Is NAFDAC?

The acronym NAFDAC means National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control. It is a federal government agency, saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding the health of every resident in Nigeria through it functions which I will be discussing in this article.

Functions Of NAFDAC In Nigeria

The Act that established the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control NAFDAC has spelled out the statutory functions of the agency, and in this article, a good number of them would be explained.

1. Ensures Compliance To Standard

The major functions of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control NAFDAC is that of ensuring compliance to standard.

Going by this what National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control does is to carry out test in locally manufactured food and drugs and, sometimes, those food and the likes imported into the country with a view to ensure that these products meet specified standard.

There is standard specifications designated to every product manufactured within Nigeria or imported into the country and until these products are  approved by the council, such food or drugs is not consumable.

There must be total consent by the council for the effective quality control of these goods, such as food, and drugs, and cosmetics, and medical devices, and packaged water, and chemicals, etc.

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2. Investigates Into Production Houses

It has been primary functions of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control to ensure that premises, where these good are produced are in order and hygienic.

From time to time, the Agency will embarked on investigation tours to these places,where these good are manufactured, and its investigation into these production houses is always appropriate and proper.

Without leaving any Stone unturn, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control will investigate and inspect raw materials for these goods, be it food or be it drugs or be it cosmetics or be it chemicals or medical devices, NAFDAC would check all accurately.

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control would ensure that quality assurance is established, and this include and not limited to  certification of the production premises, as well as, regulated products.

3. Inspects Imported Food

In this one, you cannot fool the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control, it must endure that what comes into the country meets the standard and the specification.

Some of the goods imported into the country include, imported foods, imported drugs, imported cosmetics, imported medical devices, imported bottled water, and imported chemicals among others.

Just like what happened after proper investigation into the production premises, after inspection of the of the imported products, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control would make sure that there is an establishment of the relevant quality assurance system.

NAFDAC must also ensue that, there is certification of the products and regulated products.

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4. Compiles Standard Specification For Production, Importation, Etc

National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control will always set standard specification to every product manufactured or imported.

The Agency carried this function by compiling the specification and the standard of every product, in such a way that will not threatening the health of Nigerians.

Apart from standard specification of products, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control would compiled guidelines, including regulations for production, and importation, and exportation, and sale, as well as, distribution of food, and drugs, and cosmetics,  and medical devices, bottled water, and chemicals among others.

5. Registration of Food and Drug Products

No products within this sector can thrive without National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control knowing about such product, that is why NAFDAC itself has been in the business l registering these products. I mean every product.

These products include, the aforementioned products, which falls within the powers of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control, such as food, and drugs, and medical devices, and bottled water and chemicals, and etc,etc.

Read More: How to Register a Product in NAFDAC

6. Controls Exportation

Exportation control remains one of the functions of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control, so far such product for exportation is product controlled and regulated by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control NAFDAC, like food and drugs and packaged water and chemicals and medicals devices among others.

National Agency for food and Drugs Administration Control will make sure that, quality certification of all these products for export are issued.

7. Establishes and Maintains Laboratories

One tool that is relevant to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control is laboratories, since it is in such laboratories that products can be tested to ascertain the standard specification of such products, as well as, knowing the extent at which participants in comply efficiently to set standard, and regulations.

Apart from such relevant laboratories, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control can partner with relevant institutions in strategic areas of interest within Nigeria, and such areas of interest may be necessary in aiding NAFDAC carried out its functions.

Conclusion 

There is standard specifications designated to every product manufactured within Nigeria or imported into the country and until these products are  approved by the council, such food or drugs is not consumable.

There must be total consent by the council for the effective quality control of these goods, such as food, and drugs, and cosmetics, and medical devices, and packaged water, and chemicals, etc.