NAFDAC Food Fortification Regulations

Regulations mandate the fortification of staple foods like wheat flour and salt with essential vitamins and minerals. They target flour millers, sugar refiners, and food manufacturers to ensure compliance. This aims to reduce micronutrient deficiencies such as iron and vitamin A in the population.

What Is This Policy?

Regulations mandating the fortification of specified staple foods with essential vitamins and minerals to address widespread micronutrient deficiencies in the Nigerian population.

Who Does It Target?

Flour millers, sugar refiners, and vegetable oil processors Food manufacturers of regulated staple products NAFDAC quality assurance laboratories Public health nutrition planners

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Reduce the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron, folic acid, vitamin A, and iodine, by requiring the addition of specified nutrients to widely consumed staple foods.

Key Features

Mandatory Fortification: Wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil, and salt must be fortified with specified nutrients Nutrient Levels: Defined minimum and maximum levels for each added nutrient Quality Control: Manufacturers must conduct internal quality checks and submit to NAFDAC monitoring Fortification Logo: Fortified products carry an approved logo for consumer identification Compliance Monitoring: Regular sampling and testing by NAFDAC at factory and market levels

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active and enforced Coverage: All manufacturers of regulated staple foods Lead Agency: NAFDAC Partners: Federal Ministry of Health, GAIN, UNICEF

How to Access

Manufacturers of covered products must comply. Obtain fortification premix from approved suppliers Integrate fortification into production processes Submit to NAFDAC quality monitoring

Official Resources

Website: nafdac.gov.ng Contact: NAFDAC, Abuja

Legal Framework

Issued under the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act 1993 (as amended), which empowers NAFDAC to make regulations, issue guidelines, and enforce standards. Operates alongside the Food and Drugs Act Cap F32 LFN 2004, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act 2015, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission standards adopted by Nigeria. Draws on the National Food Fortification Policy, WHO/FAO guidelines on food fortification with micronutrients, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) nutrition standards adopted in Nigeria.