NIGERIA – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed off Jaff Foods Limited, a rice processing facility in Minna, for failing to comply with mandated manufacturing regulations.

During a routine inspection visit to facilities in Niger, Mr. Shaba Mohammed, Director of NAFDAC’s North Central Zone, ordered the closure of Jaff Foods Limited. Despite the facility being registered with the agency, the inspection revealed severe lapses in maintaining a hygienic production environment and adhering to good manufacturing practices.

“The rice processing facility has been sealed off and given directives for not complying with the instant regulations, for which they were given certification to produce. The place is unhygienic, and they are not producing according to good manufacturing practices,” Shaba stated.

He further noted that some key personnel at the company lacked adequate knowledge in rice production, compounding the facility’s shortcomings.

In addition to the action taken against Jaff Foods Limited, NAFDAC also suspended the production of dispenser water at Golden Age Water, Minna. The suspension was due to the absence of batch coding and date markings on their products.

The agency also confiscated unregistered herbal tea from Jonapal Supermarket, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring consumer safety and regulatory compliance.

SMEs Workshop

In a related development, NAFDAC recently held a one-day workshop aimed at sensitizing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) about the Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS).

The workshop was part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to streamline product registration processes and enhance regulatory compliance among SMEs.

“NAPAMS is an e-registration and data capture system that provides an online electronic medium for the application for product registration with NAFDAC,” Shaba explained during the workshop.

He encouraged SMEs to utilize NAPAMS to simplify their interactions with the agency, stressing the system’s role in easing business operations.

Mr. James Kigbu, NAFDAC Coordinator in Niger, emphasized the workshop’s purpose to inform entrepreneurs about the NAPAMS portal, which is designed to facilitate business processes and compliance.

The workshop featured various stakeholders, including Folorunsho Ibrahim, Manager of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDEN), and Okwy Effiong, President of Export of Unique Nigerian Products.

Both speakers advocated continuous collaboration between NAFDAC and SMEs to foster a conducive business environment.

Mrs. Lilian Igwe from NAFDAC gave an insightful presentation on the requirements for registering and renewing licenses for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Shaba urged the general public to report activities or products that could endanger public health to NAFDAC, reinforcing the agency’s mission to safeguard consumer health through stringent regulatory oversight.

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