NAFDAC slashes SMEs registration charges by 50 per cent

The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reduced by 50 per cent the registration charges for products for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The Acting Director General of the agency, Mr Ademola Mogbojuri, said the development was in line with the Federal Government’s policy on Ease of Doing Business (EDB).

Speaking at the agency’s Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, held in Kano, Mogbojuri, who was represented by the agency’s Director, Special Duties, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, said the rationale behind the reduction was to encourage MSMEs to stand on their feet and continue to contribute their quota to the nation’s economic development.

He stated that NAFDAC had concluded plans to reduce registration time by 90 days, adding that, “NAFDAC will also implement 50 per cent reduction in the cost of registration of products for companies with five or less than five employees.”

He added that the agency had also worked out modalities for the establishment of Small Business Support Desk (SBSD) to guide small businesses through registration process.

“To encourage MSMES, we have activated NAFDAC Product Registration Outreach (NaPRO) to provide interactive engagement and advice on documentation, labeling and other requirements so as to facilitate the registration process.

“We must also ensure increase in the number of time samples are submitted to the laboratory per month.

“No fees will be charged for inspection, laboratory analysis and export licence when MSMEs are exporting their products,” he said, adding that NAFDAC will also discourage the use of consultants.