NATIONAL POLICY ON FOOD SAFETY AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY (NPFSIS)
Strategy · Agriculture
A Strategy establishes a national framework for ensuring food safety across the entire food chain. It mandates coordinated oversight from government agencies and requires producers and distributors to meet strict standards. The policy aims to reduce foodborne illnesses, protect public health, and boost consumer confidence.
What Is This Policy?
The NPFSIS is Nigeria’s national framework for ensuring food safety across the entire food chain, from production to consumption. It integrates regulation, monitoring, and enforcement to protect public health and strengthen consumer confidence
Who Does It Target?
The policy targets government agencies (NAFDAC, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture), ensuring coordinated food safety oversight. It also addresses food producers, processors, and distributors, requiring compliance with standards.
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
The NPFSIS aims to reduce foodborne illnesses, strengthen Nigeria’s food safety system, and ensure compliance with international trade standards. It seeks to protect public health, enhance consumer confidence, and promote economic stability by ensuring Nigerian food products meet export requirements.
Key Features
Policy Framework: Defines food safety principles and responsibilities. Institutional Arrangements: Clarifies roles of NAFDAC, Ministry of Health, and other agencies. Implementation Strategy: Outlines goals, objectives, and activities for enforcement. Monitoring & Evaluation: Ensures accountability and continuous improvement. Public Awareness: Promotes consumer education on food safety.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: active Coverage: applies nationwide Beneficiaries to Date: Consumers, food producers, and exporters; exact figures not yet published Funding: Federal Government allocations, donor support (FAO, WHO).
Important Terms
Term 1- Food Safety Food safety refers to the measures and practices that ensure food is free from contaminants, pathogens, and harmful substances throughout the supply chain — from farm to table. In Nigeria, this includes monitoring pesticide use, preventing aflatoxin contamination in grains, and ensuring hygienic food processing. Term 2- Foodborne Illnesses These are diseases caused by consuming contaminated food, such as cholera, salmonella, listeriosis, or aflatoxin poisoning. Foodborne illnesses are a major public health concern in Nigeria, often linked to poor hygiene, unsafe water, and inadequate regulation of food vendors.
Official Resources
Federal Ministry of Health (Nigeria) Website: https://health.gov.ng The Ministry is the lead agency for NPFSIS and publishes official policy documents, updates, and implementation guidelines. National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Website: https://nafdac.gov.ng NAFDAC enforces food safety standards and provides access to regulatory documents, inspection guidelines, and compliance requirements. National Assembly Portal Website: https://nass.gov.ng Official gazettes and legislative records related to NPFSIS can be accessed here. International Platforms FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius: Nigeria aligns its food safety policy with Codex standards, and related documents can be found at https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius (fao.org in Bing). Link to document- https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nig151436.pdf
Legal Framework
The National Policy on Food Safety operates under the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Act, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, and the Public Health Act. It aligns with the National Agricultural Policy, the Codex Alimentarius international food safety standards, and Nigeria's obligations under the World Trade Organisation's Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement).