NAFDAC to register, certify premises of chemical manufacturers

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC ) is set to register and certify the premises of chemical manufacturers to boost the country’s economy.

He also agreed with chemical manufacturers in Nigeria to explore the international chemicals market to improve the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

A statement signed on Sunday by the agency’s resident media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, said NAFDAC chief executive Professor Mojisola Adeyeye revealed this during a virtual stakeholder meeting with manufacturers. chemicals.

Adeyeye said the product will also serve as a powerful catalyst for industrial growth, adding that the current goal of NAFDAC management is to ensure that the agency’s regulatory activities are in line with international best practices.

She said the stakeholder meeting aimed to raise awareness, inform and raise awareness of current trends in the regulation of chemicals manufacturing with an emphasis on the need to be listed as a chemical manufacturer in Nigeria.

The head of NAFDAC noted that the Directorate of Chemical Assessment and Research has the mandate to ensure that only good quality chemicals are manufactured, imported, exported, distributed, sold and used in Nigeria.

Adeyeye revealed that management has put in place effective regulations and guidelines for sound chemicals management in Nigeria.

She said this has been achieved by ensuring the proper use of chemicals to reduce risks to health and the environment.

Adeyeye said he was also advocating the use of less harmful and hazardous chemicals, adding that the agency established a portal for the registration of chemicals for strict adherence to international best practices.

She added that chemicals made in Nigeria would benefit from greater acceptability and higher competitiveness with the NAFDAC registration identity.

According to her, the penetration of the international market will bring growth to the industry, and more Nigerians will obtain employment opportunities due to the expected expansion of the manufacturers’ operations.

Chemicals undoubtedly play a central role in the economic development of any country, Nigeria as an economy in transition has many chemical needs for its many industries.

“Some of these chemicals are now manufactured in the country, which creates an environment of heightened concern that NAFDAC should play a leading role in strengthening chemical safety and security.

“The NAFDAC law empowers the agency to undertake appropriate investigations into production premises and raw materials for food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals.

“The law also empowered the agency to establish relevant quality assurance systems, including certificates of production sites and regulated products,” she said.

Adeyeye said the law also requires all users of chemicals to strictly adhere to all stipulated guidelines for sound chemicals management to protect health and the environment.

According to her, this underscores why the agency communicates any regulatory changes to stakeholders.

She revealed that the list of chemical manufacturers was launched to fill existing loopholes in the regulation of chemical manufacturing in Nigeria, adding that manufacturers should be listed as the chemical manufacturer.

Adeyeye said those involved in the manufacture of speciality chemicals, laboratory chemicals, industrial chemicals, inks, paints, adhesives, wood preservatives, polishers, products cleaning chemicals, agrochemicals, biocides, fertilizers and the like should also be listed.

She noted that the use of chemicals has increased geometrically in recent years in Nigeria, increasing local manufacturing capacities.

Adeyeye said that the increase in production has led to the growth of the chemical industry in Nigeria and that the safe and secure management of chemicals in the manufacturing sector is an issue that requires a collaborative effort between regulators and Industries.

Mr Pieter De-Konnick, a Belgian, who is the Managing Director of Brenntag Chemical Nigeria Limited, producers of liquid caustic soda, congratulated NAFDAC for these initiatives.

According to De-Konnick, NAFDAC’s involvement in regulating the chemical manufacturing sector will put it in the spotlight and reposition the Nigerian chemical industry for economic growth.

“This is my eighth year in Nigeria; this is the best thing that has happened to me in this industry, NAFDAC is wonderful in their desire to regulate this industry, ”he said.

The managing director of Unikem Industries Limited, producers of ethanol from cassava, Mr Uzor Kalu and Mr Paul Audu, managing director of Roychem Industries Limited, said that the bottlenecks in obtaining the permit of NAFDAC import have disappeared.

They both noted that since Adeyeye became the boss of NAFDAC, import permits and withdrawal certificates were often done easily and had a plan to activate the year.

The introduction of the online platform via an electronic process by Adeyeye had made the application and processing of vital import documents completed in the last quarter of each year, while the manufacturers have already prepared the documentation for the new Year. (NAN)