NAFDAC Gives Deadline to Supermarket Operators on Adherence to Global Listing Scheme

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has tasked supermarket operators to adhere strictly to all the provisions of the global listing scheme of supermarket items.

Communicating this at a stakeholder forum d by NAFDAC for supermarket operators in Lagos, the Ag Director General, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, said by 31st of December 2016, all provisions of the global listing scheme would be fully enforced by NAFDAC.

The need to accommodate the supermarket operators, fast food chains, embassies and international organisation that have peculiar and large number of products led to the introduction of the global listing scheme in 2003.

According to her, the general rules for the global listing are; “items to be listed shall include conventional cosmetics, packaged and processed food products, an applicant shall have an established supermarket, an already registered items shall not be considered for listing, quantity of each item to be imported shall not exceed 2500 cartons per product per annum,” adding, she said supermarket operators can only retail the imported items once listed and distributed within their supermarket chain only.

“Supermarket operators shall register two products per 100 items imported.

The importation of products banned by the Federal Government of Nigeria shall not be allowed (Items on the import prohibition list of the Federal Republic of Nigeria). Mandatorily fortified food items shall not be allowed for example salt, flour except they have been fortified to the levels prescribed in the food grade (table or cooking), salt regulations and the food fortification with vitamin A regulations, amongst others,” she explained.

The Ag DG stated that in three months, another meeting will be convened to access the performance and compliance level and review the achievement of the December 2016 deadline to the common interest of all.

Oni enjoined supermarket operators to patronise made in Nigeria products as this will help create job and boost the economy of the country in line with the Federal Government change mantra.