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Tag: certifies

  • FG certifies Fanta, Sprite safe for consumption

    FG certifies Fanta, Sprite safe for consumption

    The Federal Ministry of Health yesterday put the controversy over the status of Fanta and Sprite to rest.

    The ministry declared both brands safe for consumption.

    There had been wide spread fears in the country following  the judgement of a Lagos High Court that  the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) should  order  the Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) to issue a mandatory warning

    that the contents should not be taken with Vitamin C in order to avoid poisoning.

    The ministry waded into the meeting yesterday by calling a meeting  with officials of the  Department of Food and Drug Services, NAFDAC, and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to address the matter.

    Spokesman for the ministry,Mr. Akinola Boade, said in a statement at the end of the meeting that

    the findings of the Ministry’s investigation revealed that both Benzoic acid and Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are ingredients approved by International Food Safety regulators and used in many food and beverage products around the world.

    He said the Benzoic acid content in both drinks remains within the specification set by  Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC),the organ established by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) to set internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines relating to foods, food production, and food safety.

    He said: “In the case of Benzoic acid, the standard set by Codex was 600mg/kg until recently reviewed to 250mg/kg and adopted in 2016 (CODEX STAN 192–1995 revised 2015 and 2016).

    “With reference to the Codex standard and other relevant documents, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as the standard setting body in Nigeria in consultation with technical experts and relevant stakeholders elaborated the standard of benzoic acid in soft drinks to be at 250mg/kg based on the National climatic and storage conditions – this standard has been in existence since 1997 and revised in 2008 (NIS 217:2008).

    “The levels of benzoic acid in Fanta (1 batch) and Sprite (2 batches) presented by the claimant in the court are 188.64mg/kg, 201.06mg/kg and 161.5mg/kg respectively; these levels are in compliance with both the Codex and Nigeria Industrial Standards.”

    The ministry pointed out that “NAFDAC and SON regularly monitor the manufacturing practices of food industries and conduct laboratory analysis to ascertain continuous compliance with required national standards; there was a routine inspection conducted at Nigeria Bottling Company by NAFDAC officers in December 2016 which was satisfactory.”

    On the difference between the standard of Fanta and Sprite in Nigeria and the United Kingdom,it said  ” each country or region is permitted to adapt a standard/limit based on country-specific scientific evidence such as environmental, storage and distribution conditions; Benzoic acid as a preservative prevents the growth of microorganisms which thrive more at higher climatic temperatures like in Nigeria.

    “Due to the different environmental conditions obtainable in the UK, the standard for benzoic acid was set at a lower limit of 150mg/kg while in Nigeria it was set at 250mg/kg even below that of Codex (as at time of production of that batch; Codex limit was 600mgkg); and Food products being imported into a country must comply with the relevant standards of the destination country.”

    It said the plaintiff in the suit that sparked the controversy  ”did not obtain NAFDAC certification before export, otherwise, he would have been advised on the required standard of the destination country.”

  • Lagos certifies 63 youth-based organisations

    63 youth-focused organisations have been duly certified by the Lagos State government.

    At a formal ceremony where the groups were presented with their certificates at Onikan Multipurpose Youth Centre, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Adebule-Akinbile, assured the organisations of support from the current administration of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode.

    She said government will continue to initiate and implement policies and programmes, with other relevant government agencies to enhance good working relationship among youths at the grassroots. Mrs. Akinbile stressed that the need to conduct a verification exercise by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, arose from the state government effort to have a data base of all registered voluntary youth organisations to ensure their functionalities.

    She added that the initiative does not limit the functioning of others who are yet to be verified, but are advised to collaborate with the ministry on the requirements for registration and verification since it’s a continuous exercise.

    “I want to assure you that we shall continue to initiate and implement policies and programmes with other relevant government agencies that would impact positively on our youth at the grassroots. The certificates awarded to you today should be a stepping stone towards promoting the good image of the state government in the areas of youth development and as youth ambassadors,” she stressed.

    Earlier, while welcoming guests to the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Hakeem Muri Okunola called on more voluntary youth organisations to come on board.

    Okunola said the initiative hopes to promote qualitative working relationship with National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter being the apex youth body, local youth councils and youth-focused NGOs that are duly registered with the ministry.

    According to him, “As you’ll all agree with me, that public private partnership is one of the policy thrusts of the state government under the leadership of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, hence there is need for collaboration at all levels to complement the efforts of the State Government in youth development activities and building a Lagos of our dreams.”

  • Lagos certifies 63 youth-based organisations

    Lagos certifies 63 youth-based organisations

    63 youth-focused organisations have been duly certified by the Lagos State government.

    At a formal ceremony where the groups were presented with their certificates at Onikan Multipurpose Youth Centre, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Adebule-Akinbile, assured the organisations of support from the current administration of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode.

    She said government will continue to initiate and implement policies and programmes, with other relevant government agencies to enhance good working relationship among youths at the grassroots. Mrs. Akinbile stressed that the need to conduct a verification exercise by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, arose from the state government effort to have a data base of all registered voluntary youth organisations to ensure their functionalities.

    She added that the initiative does not limit the functioning of others who are yet to be verified, but are advised to collaborate with the ministry on the requirements for registration and verification since it’s a continuous exercise.

    “I want to assure you that we shall continue to initiate and implement policies and programmes with other relevant government agencies that would impact positively on our youth at the grassroots. The certificates awarded to you today should be a stepping stone towards promoting the good image of the state government in the areas of youth development and as youth ambassadors,” she stressed.

    Earlier, while welcoming guests to the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Hakeem Muri Okunola called on more voluntary youth organisations to come on board.

    Okunola said the initiative hopes to promote qualitative working relationship with National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter being the apex youth body, local youth councils and youth-focused NGOs that are duly registered with the ministry.

    According to him, “As you’ll all agree with me, that public private partnership is one of the policy thrusts of the state government under the leadership of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, hence there is need for collaboration at all levels to complement the efforts of the State Government in youth development activities and building a Lagos of our dreams.”

  • NCAA certifies private security outfits

    NCAA certifies private security outfits

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA) has certified seven private security companies to provide security services at the nation’s airports.

    The companies are – Aviation Logistics and Management Limited, Olasco Company Nigeria Limited, Pathfinders International Security Limited, Planet Resources Limited. Others are Migga Dinns Limited, Checkport Security Nigeria Limited and Phillippe Associates International Limited.

    In a brief ceremony in Lagos, the Acting Director-General Mr Joyce Daniel Nkemakolam, presented certificates to the chief executives of the companies.

    Speaking before the ceremony, Nkemakolam told the security operatives that safety and security are critical to air transport operation all over the world.

    He said: “This is the time you need to deploy your expertise as you are all aware of the global security threat of which Nigeria is not an exemption.”

    Nkemakolam commended the security organisations for pulling through the rigorous process of certification, which was carried out by NCAA Aviation Security Inspectors.

    He told the companies that it is mandatory under the Nigerian Legislation and the terms of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) section 10.9.1 for private security companies working with airlines to be registered and granted approval by NCAA.

    He said: “It requires each security company to obtain security clearance from the state security service through the Federal Ministry of Aviation. Thereafter they will submit a copy of their security programme to NCAA for assessment.

     

    This assessment is to further ensure the companies meet with the requirements of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP), which reflects the policy of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations Part 17.”

    Nkemakolam expressed excitement that the seven private security companies complied with the requirements

    He said the NCAA found their security programmes to be appropriate after its assessment.

    He said :” The certification is the beginning of hard work for all of you. You must ensure compliance with the condition attached to this approval, failure of which will lead to revocation or suspension of the certificate.”

     

  • ICAN trains, certifies 38,000

    The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), has so far trained and certified over 38, 000 chartered accountants who are engaged in the creation of values in all sectors of the economy, its President, Adedoyin Owolabi, has said.

    Speaking at a public lecture, titled; ‘Accountancy Profession as a Tool for Economic Development,’ in Calabar, Owolabi said the body has currently registered a student population of about 186, 000 in its professional programme.

    He said since the introduction of the Institute’s Accelerated Programme, the number of students qualifying as chartered accountants have risen to 2500 annually.

    Also, in order to facilitate the production of middle level manpower needed by the nation in the development process, he said they introduced the Accounting Technician’s Scheme which has trained more that 12, 500 technicians in the last fifteen years.

    He said the scheme currently has a registered student population of over 98, 000.