By Opeyemi Muhammad
Two regulatory bodies in food production chains have agreed to collaborate to ensure that Nigeria’s food safety culture is entrenched.
TheNewsZenith reports that the two bodies are the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Association of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE).
They made this known at the 2024 End-of-Year Stakeholders’ dialogue where both sides had frank discussions on ensuring food safety in Nigeria, at the weekend in Lagos.
NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the dialogue session with the FSAN Directorate had become part of the Agency’s calendar.
She said this year’s session was the third consecutive annual edition.
‘’This is our third consecutive end-of-year dialogue and feedback session, so I dare say it has come to stay as a way of continually striving to serve you better,’’ the DG said.
TheNewsZenith reports that Mrs Eva Edwards, Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition represented Adeyeye.
She said the engagement would provide a meaningful dialogue about food safety.
They share insights and collaboratively address the challenges faced in ensuring the safety and quality of the food supply.
Adeyeye said the gathering showed that the food sector is critical to safeguarding public health and sustaining consumer trust.
According to her, the meeting also shared information on new developments and NAFDAC regulatory processes for food manufacturing facilities.
‘‘Food safety is a shared responsibility. We have a moral obligation to protect the health of our communities,” she said.
Adeyeye said the impact of unsafe food could be far-reaching, affecting not only public health but also economies and trade.
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She said the food sector has a critical role in implementing robust food safety standards and adopting innovative solutions. It must also foster a food safety culture.
“As regulators, our job is to provide appropriate guidance leading to voluntary compliance, working alongside you to address challenges in meeting regulatory requirements.
”We desire to create a food safety ecosystem that is proactive, transparent and resilient.
”We are focusing on initiatives like risk categorisation of local food establishments. Also, discussions on digital food traceability have started with the service providers.’
Adeyeye said the Agency had received several applications from manufacturers for changes in the formulation of their products.
She noted that the agency will ensure that such formulation changes do not negatively impact the nutritional content.
Neither will it affect the value of the products based on scientific justification.
Fred Chiazor, AFBTE’s Technical Committee Chairman, commended NAFDAC for providing opportunities for industry operators to exchange progressive ideas.
”Things have changed in NAFDAC. We are no longer in the era of the Police and criminals.
”Rather, we are becoming more strategic in our thinking.
‘We also want to bring suggestions for the future,’ Chiazor said.
He advised members to be open in their discussions as they would not be victimised for speaking their minds.
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