Why we are strict in granting certification ― NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has maintained that it will not compromise global best practices and standards under the guise of placating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)who have refused to follow due process to get the required identification certification.

Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye in a statement by its Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, on Sunday reiterated the important role that Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play in the Nigerian economy, stressed that her Agency would continue to render its unflinching support to them in order to enable MSMEs to continue to act as a catalyst to economic rejuvenation.

Reacting to the insinuations in some quarters that it is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for an MSME operator to get the required certification for NAFDAC registration.

Adeyeye said the average MSME entrepreneur would testify that the relationship between them and the Agency has tremendously improved and become very cordial in the recent past.

“Globally, MSMEs contribute up to 45 per cent of total employment and up to 33 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in emerging economies”.

“In a recent review of a 2017 survey on MSMEs, it was revealed that in Nigeria, there were 41.4 million MSMEs and about 99 per cent belonged to the micro sub-sector”.

“MSMEs are the bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialization and inclusive economic development and the most important component of industrialization as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Federal Government”.

Adeyeye stated that the significance of MSMEs in the economy of the nation cannot, therefore, be over-emphasized.

She further stated that the NAFDAC timeline for the processing of products for registration is Ninety (90) days and that there are consistent efforts to ensuring timelines are met, amongst which are the deployment of a robust e registration platform called NAFDAC Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS), which has the capacity for monitoring and assessment of timelines.

She pointed out that timely responses to issues raised with applications are required and some of the compliance issues that are frequently observed range from labelling lapses, inadequate documentation, increased product analysis failure rate & product rejects, especially with highly sensitive products like detection of cyanide in cassava related products.

“The ongoing training and re-training of prospective NAFDAC Applicants/MSMEs entrepreneurs on principles of Good Agricultural Practices and other relevant techniques, are helping in yielding the desired reduction of such failures.”

Adeyeye noted that if there is a sector that has been supported by NAFDAC the most it is MSMEs because the Agency reduced the registration fee by 80 per cent for six months last year.

She added that the first two hundred applicants received zero registration fee, while after the first two hundred, the Agency made it 80 per cent zero registration fee.

“That is palliative which was not done to any other sector. In addition, we waived late renewal fees for those whose NAFDAC Registration licenses expired during the same period.”

“We did it for MSMEs because they are very key to our economy. The COVID 19 pandemic might have slowed down some people who might have wanted to register. But six months out of the nine months of the pandemic in 2020 was devoted to rendering help to the MSMEs.

Adeyeye admitted that because some MSMEs are not very computer literate, they may have challenges in terms of e-registration as some are being helped to register.

“That is why we talk about assisted registration procedure. We will help those who do not know how to use the computer to register. If anybody goes online to start our registration process, and encounter any problem there is an internet/online assistant that will ask can I help you.”

“I have tried it myself and you can type any request, which would be attended to online. there is no shortcut to improvement with technology or trade. Sometimes we want shortcuts. Sometimes, we do not have the patience to start something and finish it. No, it does not work that way.”

“Some people that have products that they think could be exported, take shortcuts. They do not go to NAFDAC to test their products before they are exported.

“Thereafter, the government of the receiving country stops the product, and they reject it and destroy it. We all need to learn not to take shortcuts.”

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