SON, NAFDAC, NAQS; Know the Difference
SON, NAFDAC, NAQS; Know the Difference
My discussion with UNIDO International expert on food value chain on improving the Nigerian food system through a reward mechanism as I seek guidance, open me up to searching on clear cut roles of our food regulators. Debate on whether to go for jury or consumers polling to evaluating selected criteria for the best performing regulatory body under review was heated as I advance that Nigerians and players within the food industries could easily identify these bodies, their roles and achievements thus far, having roll out requirements for the category.
To my amazement, I was told that it's technical identifying them even among food practitioners, let alone from the citizens. Cases like high level of reject of Nigeria's agricultural products was sighted of which beans happened to suffered more from media exposure. Likewise a "would be" sponsor of ours also questioned about the overlapping roles of regulatory bodies within the food sector as she attentively listened to the difference.
It's challenging drawing the thin line between them from the inside. Many of the food experts (quality control, quality assurance, post marketing surveillance personnel, and hygienist) fall into this dilemma.
I don't intent to be technical but simplistic. Let me quickly itemize some of the regulatory bodies in the Nigerian food sector
SON
NAFDAC
NAQS
NASC
NEPC
NIRSAL
NAMBA
NARS
I would settle for the first three as operators interface with them often while consumers relate to their signature on food labels.
The first two regulatory bodies need little or no introduction unlike the third. NAQS stands for Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services
NAFDAC is responsible for sales and market authorization of packaged foods, drugs and cosmetics. Products within this category can only make it into the shelf after approval
The phrase "prepackaged" is used in this content as packaged. It means made up in advance in a container, ready to be offered or sold to consumers. NAFDAC jurisdiction does not cover naked foods, drugs and cosmetics. For instance the sales of shear butter, cassava flour and garlic powder would only attract NAFDAC once it's packaged. Simply put, packaged products without NAFDAC registration number is inherently illegal, not verifiable and risky to be place on shelf
Unlike NAQS that deals with non-packaged food products. The ban or reject of Nigerian agricultural product is the duty of this agency to collaborate with other regulatory bodies to stage a coordinated quality management. Ideally before foodstuff gets into the open markets, it ought to have undergone appropriate tests and compliance with standard specifications before consumption
SON cuts across all industries. It is the apex body for industrial standards, accreditation, metrology, certification and standardization.
Standard is an international language for commerce. It covers all sectors and remains the passport to the global market
SON through Nigerian Industrial Standards, NIS, scheme grant sales and market authorization to non food, drug and cosmetic products. The perceived overlap in functions come to play in the establishment of standards which cover management, process and product.
In carrying out conformity assessment services, list of requirement synonymous with NAFDAC is upheld. Afterall SON owns the standards.
For clarity, standards are voluntary by nature, unlike regulatory, which is enforced by law.
Reason, SON does not confiscates food, drug and cosmetics with NAFDAC number and no NIS mark
The key is this, SON functions as standards and regulatory body depending on the industries. In addition, it is a department under the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment while NAFDAC - Ministry of Health and NAQS - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act 1993
Functions of the Agency
Section 5 sets out the functions of the Agency. It provides that the Agency shall have the following functions;
Regulate and control the importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Conduct appropriate tests and ensure compliance with standard specifications designated and approved by the Council for the effective control of the quality of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals and their raw materials as well as their production processes in factories and other establishments;
Undertake appropriate investigations into the production premises and raw materials for food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals and establish relevant quality assurance systems, including certification of the production sites and of the regulated products
Undertake inspection of imported food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals and establish relevant quality assurance systems, including certification of the production sites and of the regulated products;
Compile standard specifications and guidelines for the production, importation, exportation, sale and distribution of food, drug, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Undertake the registration of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Control the exportation and issue quality certification of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals intended for export;
Establish and maintain relevant laboratories or other institutions in strategic areas of Nigeria as may be necessary for the performance of its functions under this Act;
Pronounce on the quality and safety of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals after appropriate analysis;
Undertake measures to ensure that the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are limited to medical and scientific purposes;
Grant authorisation for the import and export of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as well as other controlled substances;
Collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in measures to eradicate drug abuse in Nigeria;
Advise Federal, State and local governments, the private sector and other interested bodies regarding the quality, safety, and regulatory provisions on food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Undertake and co-ordinate research programmes on the storage, adulteration, distribution and rational use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Issue guidelines on, approve and monitor the advertisement of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Compile and publish relevant data resulting from the performance of the functions of the Agency under this Act or from other sources;
Sponsor such national and international conferences as it may consider appropriate;
Liaise with relevant establishments within and outside Nigeria in pursuance of its functions;
Determine the suitability or otherwise of medicines, drugs, food products, cosmetics, medical devices or chemicals for human and animal use;
And carry out such activities as are necessary or expedient for the performance of its functions under this Act
SON; Nigerian Industrial Standards
Let me highlight the function of SON MANCAP and SONCAP here
SON
Organise tests necessary to ensure compliance with standards
Undertaken investigations as necessary into the quality of facilities, materials and products in Nigeria, and establish a quality assurance system including certification of factories, products and laboratories;
Ensure reference standards for calibration and verification of measures and measuring instruments;
Compile an inventory of products requiring standardisation;
Compile Nigerian standards specifications;
Foster interest in the recommendation and maintenance of acceptable standards by industry and the general public;
Develop methods for testing of materials, supplies and equipment including items purchased for use of departments of the Government of the Federation or a state and private establishments;
Register and regulate standards marks and specifications;
Undertake preparation and distribution of standards samples;
Establish and maintain such number of laboratories and other institutions as may be necessary for the performance of its functions under the Act;
Compile and publish general scientific or other data – resulting from the performance of its functions under the Act; or from other sources when such data are of importance to scientific or manufacturing interests or to the general public and are not available elsewhere;
Advise departments of the Government of the Federation or a state on specific problems relative to standards specifications;
Sponsor such national and international conferences as it may consider appropriate;
Co-ordinate all activities relative to its functions throughout Nigeria and to co-operate with corresponding national or international organizations in such fields of activities as it considers necessary with a view to securing uniformity in standards specifications;
And undertake any other activity likely to assist in the performance of the functions conferred by the Act
MANCAP
The Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) is a programme adopted by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to ensure that all locally manufactured products conform to the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) before they are presented for sale in the Nigerian market or exported. The objectives of the programme are as follows –
Ensuring that manufactured products comply with the Nigerian Industrial Standards prior to introduction into the market.
Promoting quality awareness and hence wealth creation through reduction of wastes in the form of substandard products.
Preventing the production and sale of substandard and/or unsafe products to consumers thereby protecting lives and property.
Ensuring that products purchased by consumers offer value for money while guaranteeing safety of life and the environment.
Providing confidence that only products that meet the minimum quality requirements are put for sale on the Nigerian market.
Providing a level playing ground in competitive domestic and international markets.
Preventing dumping of unsafe and counterfeit products in our markets.
Providing reliable records for identification and traceability of all locally manufactured products in the country and to promote investment and trade of Nigerian products standardisation.
Inspiring confidence in consumers that products purchased will meet intended use
My discussion with UNIDO International expert on food value chain on improving the Nigerian food system through a reward mechanism as I seek guidance, open me up to searching on clear cut roles of our food regulators. Debate on whether to go for jury or consumers polling to evaluating selected criteria for the best performing regulatory body under review was heated as I advance that Nigerians and players within the food industries could easily identify these bodies, their roles and achievements thus far, having roll out requirements for the category.
To my amazement, I was told that it's technical identifying them even among food practitioners, let alone from the citizens. Cases like high level of reject of Nigeria's agricultural products was sighted of which beans happened to suffered more from media exposure. Likewise a "would be" sponsor of ours also questioned about the overlapping roles of regulatory bodies within the food sector as she attentively listened to the difference.
It's challenging drawing the thin line between them from the inside. Many of the food experts (quality control, quality assurance, post marketing surveillance personnel, and hygienist) fall into this dilemma.
I don't intent to be technical but simplistic. Let me quickly itemize some of the regulatory bodies in the Nigerian food sector
SON
NAFDAC
NAQS
NASC
NEPC
NIRSAL
NAMBA
NARS
I would settle for the first three as operators interface with them often while consumers relate to their signature on food labels.
The first two regulatory bodies need little or no introduction unlike the third. NAQS stands for Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services
NAFDAC is responsible for sales and market authorization of packaged foods, drugs and cosmetics. Products within this category can only make it into the shelf after approval
The phrase "prepackaged" is used in this content as packaged. It means made up in advance in a container, ready to be offered or sold to consumers. NAFDAC jurisdiction does not cover naked foods, drugs and cosmetics. For instance the sales of shear butter, cassava flour and garlic powder would only attract NAFDAC once it's packaged. Simply put, packaged products without NAFDAC registration number is inherently illegal, not verifiable and risky to be place on shelf
Unlike NAQS that deals with non-packaged food products. The ban or reject of Nigerian agricultural product is the duty of this agency to collaborate with other regulatory bodies to stage a coordinated quality management. Ideally before foodstuff gets into the open markets, it ought to have undergone appropriate tests and compliance with standard specifications before consumption
SON cuts across all industries. It is the apex body for industrial standards, accreditation, metrology, certification and standardization.
Standard is an international language for commerce. It covers all sectors and remains the passport to the global market
SON through Nigerian Industrial Standards, NIS, scheme grant sales and market authorization to non food, drug and cosmetic products. The perceived overlap in functions come to play in the establishment of standards which cover management, process and product.
In carrying out conformity assessment services, list of requirement synonymous with NAFDAC is upheld. Afterall SON owns the standards.
For clarity, standards are voluntary by nature, unlike regulatory, which is enforced by law.
Reason, SON does not confiscates food, drug and cosmetics with NAFDAC number and no NIS mark
The key is this, SON functions as standards and regulatory body depending on the industries. In addition, it is a department under the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment while NAFDAC - Ministry of Health and NAQS - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act 1993
Functions of the Agency
Section 5 sets out the functions of the Agency. It provides that the Agency shall have the following functions;
Regulate and control the importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Conduct appropriate tests and ensure compliance with standard specifications designated and approved by the Council for the effective control of the quality of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals and their raw materials as well as their production processes in factories and other establishments;
Undertake appropriate investigations into the production premises and raw materials for food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals and establish relevant quality assurance systems, including certification of the production sites and of the regulated products
Undertake inspection of imported food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals and establish relevant quality assurance systems, including certification of the production sites and of the regulated products;
Compile standard specifications and guidelines for the production, importation, exportation, sale and distribution of food, drug, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Undertake the registration of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Control the exportation and issue quality certification of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals intended for export;
Establish and maintain relevant laboratories or other institutions in strategic areas of Nigeria as may be necessary for the performance of its functions under this Act;
Pronounce on the quality and safety of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals after appropriate analysis;
Undertake measures to ensure that the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are limited to medical and scientific purposes;
Grant authorisation for the import and export of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as well as other controlled substances;
Collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in measures to eradicate drug abuse in Nigeria;
Advise Federal, State and local governments, the private sector and other interested bodies regarding the quality, safety, and regulatory provisions on food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Undertake and co-ordinate research programmes on the storage, adulteration, distribution and rational use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Issue guidelines on, approve and monitor the advertisement of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals;
Compile and publish relevant data resulting from the performance of the functions of the Agency under this Act or from other sources;
Sponsor such national and international conferences as it may consider appropriate;
Liaise with relevant establishments within and outside Nigeria in pursuance of its functions;
Determine the suitability or otherwise of medicines, drugs, food products, cosmetics, medical devices or chemicals for human and animal use;
And carry out such activities as are necessary or expedient for the performance of its functions under this Act
SON; Nigerian Industrial Standards
Let me highlight the function of SON MANCAP and SONCAP here
SON
Organise tests necessary to ensure compliance with standards
Undertaken investigations as necessary into the quality of facilities, materials and products in Nigeria, and establish a quality assurance system including certification of factories, products and laboratories;
Ensure reference standards for calibration and verification of measures and measuring instruments;
Compile an inventory of products requiring standardisation;
Compile Nigerian standards specifications;
Foster interest in the recommendation and maintenance of acceptable standards by industry and the general public;
Develop methods for testing of materials, supplies and equipment including items purchased for use of departments of the Government of the Federation or a state and private establishments;
Register and regulate standards marks and specifications;
Undertake preparation and distribution of standards samples;
Establish and maintain such number of laboratories and other institutions as may be necessary for the performance of its functions under the Act;
Compile and publish general scientific or other data – resulting from the performance of its functions under the Act; or from other sources when such data are of importance to scientific or manufacturing interests or to the general public and are not available elsewhere;
Advise departments of the Government of the Federation or a state on specific problems relative to standards specifications;
Sponsor such national and international conferences as it may consider appropriate;
Co-ordinate all activities relative to its functions throughout Nigeria and to co-operate with corresponding national or international organizations in such fields of activities as it considers necessary with a view to securing uniformity in standards specifications;
And undertake any other activity likely to assist in the performance of the functions conferred by the Act
MANCAP
The Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) is a programme adopted by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to ensure that all locally manufactured products conform to the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) before they are presented for sale in the Nigerian market or exported. The objectives of the programme are as follows –
Ensuring that manufactured products comply with the Nigerian Industrial Standards prior to introduction into the market.
Promoting quality awareness and hence wealth creation through reduction of wastes in the form of substandard products.
Preventing the production and sale of substandard and/or unsafe products to consumers thereby protecting lives and property.
Ensuring that products purchased by consumers offer value for money while guaranteeing safety of life and the environment.
Providing confidence that only products that meet the minimum quality requirements are put for sale on the Nigerian market.
Providing a level playing ground in competitive domestic and international markets.
Preventing dumping of unsafe and counterfeit products in our markets.
Providing reliable records for identification and traceability of all locally manufactured products in the country and to promote investment and trade of Nigerian products standardisation.
Inspiring confidence in consumers that products purchased will meet intended use
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