LunagisthubNAFDAC Cracks Down on Smuggled Food Products: A Threat to Public Health
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sounded the alarm on the increasing influx of prohibited food items into the Nigerian market. The agency has identified products such as pasta, noodles, sugar, and tomato paste as being smuggled into the country, despite being listed on the Federal Government’s Customs Prohibition List .
NAFDAC warns that these products pose significant risks to public health, as they have not undergone the agency’s mandatory safety evaluation and quality assurance processes. The circulation of such prohibited items undermines the integrity of the country’s food control system and violates national trade laws .
The agency has directed all importers, supermarket operators, open market traders, and other stakeholders in the food supply chain to immediately cease the importation, sale, and distribution of all products on the Customs Prohibition List. Failure to comply will attract strict enforcement actions, including:
– Seizure and destruction of prohibited goods
– Suspension or revocation of operational licenses
– Prosecution in accordance with relevant laws.
NAFDAC has called on relevant government agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service, to work collaboratively to enforce the prohibition of these unsafe products. The agency remains committed to safeguarding the health of Nigerians and ensuring strict adherence to regulatory standards
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