Officials of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at the weekend busted peddlers of unauthorised chemicals in Lagos where a good number of arrests were made.
“If it is restricted chemical, we have got to monitor it when it comes in; when moving it from one place to another NAFDAC also monitors that transfer because chemicals can be used to do many bad things”, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said in response to the operation.
She added that some of these items are precursors to narcotics while some of others might be precursors to making bombs.
According to a statement by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Mr. Sayo Akintola, Adeyeye said that NAFDAC is very stringent on regulation of chemicals to protect the nation. “We are very stringent on regulatory management of chemicals which include inspection, testing and approval and post approval surveillance.
“The fact that we have given someone licence does not mean we have to fold our arms. We have to keep checking to make sure that they are still abiding with regulations’’, she said.
As chemicals are essential for human use, Adeyeye noted that they are also delicate and dangerous, adding that this is why it must be ensured that only genuine chemicals are available and are properly handled, stored, and managed.
‘’This is why NAFDAC ensures that it employs the strategy of inspection, investigation and enforcement, post marketing surveillance as well as sensitisation to curb the activities of erring manufacturers and peddlers of unapproved chemical products who either deliberately circumvent the agency to sell unwholesome regulated products to the public or due to ignorance or lack of sensitisation do not toe the lawful path in dealing in NAFDAC regulated products’’, Adeyeye further said.
She said chemical, drug or food manufacturers are encouraged to join an association, emphasising that they are not forced to join a particular association.
She urged them to join trade associations so that when the agency is disseminating information, the association would be able to distribute it amongst its members, noting that it is easier to control when there is an association.
“Though we don’t insist that client should join a particular association, but they need to be part of one. Chemical manufacturers have an association and we have had a couple of stakeholders meetings. The importance of chemicals is underscored at this meeting and the importance of doing things right is important at that meeting’’, she said.
The NAFDAC DG insisted that whether it is restricted or unrestricted chemical, the agency must carry out inspection of the warehouse, issue port permit and assess the storage condition because the temperature can be harsh, noting that what may not break down in one year, if put it in a tropical environment, may break down in six months or less.
‘’We have to keep checking to make sure that they are still abiding with regulations”, she said.
