The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is intensifying efforts to block the entry of substandard and counterfeit products into Nigeria, especially from China and India, which are the country’s two largest pharmaceutical trade partners.
During a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday, the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, highlighted that the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) scheme has played a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s regulatory oversight on pharmaceutical imports, particularly from these two nations.
In the past, China and India were responsible for 70% of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical imports. However, with NAFDAC’s push to encourage local manufacturing, this figure has been reduced to 60%. Despite this reduction, counterfeit and substandard medicines from these countries continue to present a significant threat to public health.
Prof. Adeyeye explained that because a large portion of the drugs come from China and India, the CRIA scheme is now operational in both countries to address this challenge. The scheme ensures that only safe, high-quality products are shipped to Nigeria, while substandard or counterfeit products are blocked from export.
NAFDAC has also taken steps to strengthen this process by appointing and accrediting CRIA agents in both China and India. These agents are responsible for conducting stringent pre-shipment inspections to prevent the shipment of low-quality products from the source.
In addition to the involvement of CRIA agents, NAFDAC has partnered with COTECNA, an international testing, inspection, and certification service provider, to further improve the quality control process. This collaboration aims to ensure a higher standard of products entering Nigeria.
Prof. Adeyeye strongly encouraged stakeholders to engage with the accredited CRIA agents before shipping any pharmaceutical consignment to Nigeria.
She emphasized that stakeholders should select any of the listed CRIA agents to ensure their shipments comply with NAFDAC’s stringent regulatory standards, safeguarding the quality of the imported goods.
Furthermore, NAFDAC introduced an electronic platform called the Port Inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PIDCARMS), designed to streamline the document verification process and enhance inspection procedures. This system is expected to improve efficiency and ensure that only compliant shipments enter the Nigerian market.
Despite these considerable efforts, Prof. Adeyeye raised a critical question: “What happens to rejected shipments?” She expressed concern about whether these shipments might find their way into Nigeria through illegal channels. This remains a challenge that must be tackled collaboratively with the CRIA agents in both China and India.
To mitigate these risks and ensure that only approved products are allowed into the country, NAFDAC urged stakeholders to visit its official website regularly for guidelines on product registration, labelling, and shipment requirements.
By adhering to these standards, the agency hopes to ensure that all pharmaceutical imports meet the necessary regulatory compliance to safeguard the health and well-being of Nigerians.
