FOOD AND DRUGS ACT
Act · Health
An Act regulates the manufacture, import, sale, and labelling of food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices in Nigeria to prevent unsafe products. It targets manufacturers, importers, sellers, and consumers of these items. This protects public health by enforcing safety standards.
What Is This Policy?
This Act regulates the manufacture, import, sale, and labelling of food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices in Nigeria, prohibiting adulteration, mislabelling, and the sale of unsafe products to the public.
Who Does It Target?
Food and drug manufacturers and importers Retail sellers of food, drugs, and cosmetics Consumers purchasing food and medicinal products in Nigeria
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
To protect Nigerian consumers from unsafe, adulterated, or mislabelled food and drug products by establishing minimum standards, requiring accurate labelling, and providing enforcement mechanisms for regulatory agencies.
Key Features
Food Safety Standards: Prohibits the sale of food that is adulterated, contaminated, decomposed, or unfit for human consumption Drug Purity Requirements: Sets standards for the composition, purity, and potency of drugs sold in Nigeria Labelling Requirements: Mandates accurate labelling of food and drug products including ingredients, manufacturer details, and expiry dates False Advertising Prohibition: Bans misleading claims about the composition, properties, or health benefits of food and drug products Inspection and Seizure: Empowers designated officers to inspect premises, seize non-compliant products, and initiate prosecution
Current Status
Rollout Stage: In force; primary enforcement now largely carried out by NAFDAC under the NAFDAC Act Coverage: Nationwide Funding: Federal government budget; NAFDAC registration and inspection fees
How to Access
Manufacturers and importers must ensure their products comply with the Act before placing them on the Nigerian market. Product registration with NAFDAC as required under the NAFDAC Act Labels that accurately describe the product, its composition, and usage instructions Manufacturing premises meeting required food safety or pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practice standards Application method: NAFDAC offices nationwide; complaints about unsafe food or drugs can be reported to NAFDAC
Important Terms
Selling adulterated or mislabelled food or drugs is a criminal offence under the Act Conviction may result in fines, imprisonment, and seizure of the offending products
Official Resources
Website: www.nafdac.gov.ng
Legal Framework
Enacted under the legislative powers of the National Assembly. Superseded in large part by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Act 1993, which is the operative statute for food and drug regulation. Operates alongside the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015, the Consumer Protection Council Act, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2019. Aligns with Codex Alimentarius Commission standards.