NAFDAC FOOD GRADE TABLE OR COOKING SALT REGULATIONS 2019
Regulation · Trade
Policy date: 2019-01-01
Regulations set quality, composition, and labelling standards for table and cooking salt in Nigeria, including mandatory iodisation to prevent iodine deficiency. They target salt producers, packers, importers, distributors, retailers, and authorities like NAFDAC. This ensures salt is safe and meets health requirements.
What Is This Policy?
Regulations setting quality, composition, and labelling standards for table salt and cooking salt intended for human consumption in Nigeria, including requirements for iodisation to address iodine deficiency disorders.
Who Does It Target?
Salt producers, packers, and importers Distributors and retailers of table salt NAFDAC as the regulatory authority Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
To ensure that table and cooking salt sold in Nigeria is safe, properly refined, and iodised at the required level to prevent iodine deficiency disorders, and that labelling is truthful and complete.
Key Features
Mandatory Iodisation: All table salt for human consumption must be iodised to a minimum concentration of iodine. Quality Standards: Sets limits for moisture, sodium chloride content, and heavy metal contaminants. Packaging Requirements: Prescribes acceptable packaging materials to prevent contamination. Label Requirements: Labels must state iodine content, net weight, manufacturer details, and NAFDAC number. Penalties: Selling sub-standard or non-iodised table salt is an offence attracting fines and product seizure.
Current Status
In force. Actively enforced by NAFDAC, with mandatory iodisation requirements and labelling standards applied to all table and cooking salt products in the Nigerian market.
Salt producers register products with NAFDAC providing quality test results Iodisation must be verified before registration is granted Routine market surveillance checks iodine levels in the supply chain Application method: NAFDAC headquarters and zonal offices
Important Terms
Non-iodised table salt may not be sold for human consumption NAFDAC may withdraw registration of products failing post-market tests Imports of table salt are subject to the same standards as locally produced salt
Official Resources
Website: www.nafdac.gov.ng Policy Summary Document | Federal Republic of Nigeria
Legal Framework
The NAFDAC Food Grade Salt Regulations are issued under the NAFDAC Act and operate alongside the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, the National Agency for Food Security Act, and the Consumer Protection Council Act. They align with the Codex Alimentarius Standard for Salt (Codex Stan 150-1985), the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (on iodised salt), and ECOWAS regulations on iodisation standards for food-grade salt.