The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says regulation of veterinary drugs and vaccines, pesticides and agrochemicals is essential to ensuring food safety in Nigeria.
The information is contained in a statement signed by NAFDAC’s resident media advisor, Mr. Olusayo Akintola, delivered to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
Aintola stated that the Agency’s Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, submitted the application during a virtual meeting with stakeholders in the sector.
He quoted her as saying that “animal feed, animal feed additives and feed supplements and their use are also essential for food safety.
“The regulatory activities for these products are currently being reviewed.”
Adeyeye added that the agency is committed and ready to work with anyone and everyone on activities that would ensure food security and food safety in the country.
“So it is time that stakeholders support government agencies’ efforts to create effective regulations to take a giant leap in food safety in Nigeria,” she noted.
According to her, the agency will continue to ensure that all food available is safe, healthy, and of the right quality, as enshrined in the NAFDAC Act Cap N1 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
She reiterated that the Agency was fulfilling this mandate by stimulating its regulatory activities through industrial outreach and working with stakeholders.
She said the agency is promoting synergies with its technical directorates to achieve a seamless regulatory process.
“To this end, the commitment of the stakeholders this year should encourage the active participation of the technical directorates in order to adequately address all gray areas and to achieve a robust interaction.
“A number of measures to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were listed for the participating actors.”
Adeyeye also said the formulation of veterinary antibiotics had been revised to contain no more than two active ingredients, and encouraged the use of effective biosecurity.
In their view, effective biosecurity is necessary for good, hygienic and hygienic practices in the establishments that lead to the production of healthy food of animal origin.
She noted that “Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) residues and other health risks can also be reduced in agricultural produce to ensure that the food in circulation does not harm or disease consumers while promoting international trade.”
The director general listed additional measures taken by the agency to strengthen regulation of veterinary medicines, pesticides and animal feed, including – packaging review, pesticide and agrochemical presentation aimed at safe and responsible use.
According to the NAFDAC chief, the emerging trend of events in global food safety has shown that food safety and human welfare are directly and indirectly related to animal health and the environment.