The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to prioritise the registration of their products in order to safeguard public health and ensure regulatory compliance.
The Director of NAFDAC, North Central Zone, Kenneth Azikwe, made the appeal on Monday during a stakeholders’ engagement in Minna, Niger State.
Mr Azikwe said the agency had simplified the registration process through the NAFDAC Automated Product and Monitoring System (NAPMS), which allows businesses to register their products online without physical presence. He described the system as cheaper, faster and more efficient for enterprises seeking certification.
Read Also: NAFDAC warns public of counterfeit batches of Postinor-2 in circulation
He also encouraged entrepreneurs to take advantage of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Registration Scheme, designed to accommodate low-risk food products using minimal facilities while still guaranteeing product safety.
Azikwe acknowledges the agency’s improvement. He further urged companies to embrace this simplified registration scheme.
He further advised stakeholders to use the agency’s Green Book, a database of registered products, as well as the Med Safety App to check the status of drugs and report any adverse reactions experienced by consumers.
The director stressed that registering products and obtaining necessary licences were critical, particularly in the agrochemical and chemical sectors, to curb unsafe practices and protect consumers.
NAFDAC’s Niger State Coordinator, James Kigbu, also highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement, noting that feedback from businesses would enhance regulatory processes and help the agency improve services.
Stakeholders present included representatives from the Agro Chemical Association, the Industrial Pharmacy of Nigeria, the Supermarket Owners Association, among others.
