Tag: NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched narcotic drug serialization to track and trace narcotic products from the source of production to the consumer.

The agency said the move became imperative to combat the menace of drug and substance abuse in Nigeria, particularly among the youth population.

Emphasizing the seriousness of the issue of substance abuse, the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, at the commissioning of the narcotic drugs serialization pilot project in Lagos on Friday, said: ‘’The abuse of drug substances is global. We have realized our issue in Nigeria, and we are ready to address it.’’

Adeyeye, in a statement on Sunday, January 21, by NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, noted that narcotics were chosen amongst other classes of drugs to make sure drug or substance abuse in Nigeria is eliminated or mitigated.

Adeyeye who attributed the challenge of substandard and falsified medicines, along with disorderly drug distribution by unscrupulous entities in the sector, however, revealed plans to implement serialization for all other NAFDAC-regulated drug products.

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The statement reads: “In its renewed efforts to combat the menace of drug and substance abuse in Nigeria, particularly amongst the teeming youth population, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC has put in place effective mechanisms to track and trace narcotic products right from the very source of production, the manufacturing plant, to the end user, the patient through narcotic drugs serialization

“Prof Adeyeye noted that narcotics were chosen amongst other classes of drugs to make sure that we do not have drug or substance abuse in Nigeria or to mitigate it, adding that this will be replicated for all other NAFDAC-regulated drug products.

“Going down memory lane, Prof Adeyeye recalled the ubiquitous misuse of Tramadol and Codeine all over the country when she got to NAFDAC in 2017 with their adverse effects on the mental health of young adults, children, and women that were selling codeine or tramadol.

“For the first six months of my tenure, I was running after tramadol or codeine at that time”.

“As a regulatory Agency saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the safety and quality of medicines, she stated that NAFDAC places utmost importance on good distribution practices as a core mandate of the agency is to ensure that the distribution of medical products along the pharmaceutical supply chain reflects best global practices.

“She however regretted that one of the greatest challenges that we face today in the healthcare sector is the occurrence of substandard and falsified medicines.

“She added that in Nigeria, this problem is further compounded by the chaotic drug distribution practices of unscrupulous elements of society who do not place premium on human lives.

‘’These are the sharp practices that the Traceability project (Track and Trace) seeks to stop.’’, she maintained as she enthused that Track and Trace (Traceability) is indeed a game changer.

“With this technology, she said medicines can now be tracked and traced right from the very source of production, the manufacturing plant, to the end user, the patient.

“Through the scanning device on an Android phone, the NAFDAC boss said consumers can now verify the authenticity of the drug product they consume and be assured of the quality of medicines.

“More importantly, she said the track and trace technology is a veritable tool to be deployed in the event of medication recalls.

‘’The commissioning event of the project is a crystallization of a series of activities that the Agency embarked upon since May 2018, when we attended the very first GS1 Africa healthcare conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“This led to the development and formulation of the Traceability Strategy Document, a five-year implementation roadmap for pharmaceutical products that was launched by the then Honourable Minister for Health in October 2020’’.

“She said the narcotic drugs serialization pilot project symbolizes a significant milestone in the Agency’s commitment to delivering quality, efficacious, and easily verifiable medical products to the Nigerian consumer by adequately securing the drug distribution network.

“She explained that the need to commence the track and trace of pharmaceutical products with narcotic medicines is a very strategic one, noting that Narcotic drugs occupy a very prime place in healthcare, and due to the very high propensity for abuse and diversion of this group of essential medicines cannot always be overruled.

“The DG disclosed that the pilot project will be on for about one year, during which ‘’we expect to have been familiar with all that will be necessary to enhance the deployment and full implementation of the track and trace project for other drug classes in scalable phases.’’

“Prof Adeyeye further stated that manufacturers must first commission the products they are registered to distribute into the NAFDAC Traceability System, and when it gets to the distributors or the wholesalers, they will also scan the products using a 2D Data Matrix barcode scanner to capture the event related to the movement of the product.

“The NAFDAC boss said that all this will be captured in the Agency’s Information Traceability System so that if something goes off the track within the supply chain it would be easily traced and tracked and help in no small measure to reduce drug abuse.

“The Managing Director of the technical partner, GS1 Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Odunlami, described the occasion as a very significant day in the history of traceability in Nigeria.

“For GS1, he said that it has been a journey that started over ten years ago when the company started preaching the importance of traceability. He, however, commended NAFDAC for identifying the importance of this standard in transforming the way we do things in the country and enabling traceability and a good distribution system for the country.

‘’NAFDAC has taken the mantle as you can see today where we are now doing serialization of a very important class of medication which is Narcotics.’’, he said, as he explained the GSI standard and the role it will play in the system.

“Mr. Odunlami further explained that GS1 provided the standard while Newsoft Nigeria Plc is the solution provider saddled with the responsibility of developing the solution and carrying out the implementation.”

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) will investigate the reported conversion of polyethylene into edible oil, it emerged on Saturday.

Emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians as a responsible, science-based regulatory agency, it noted that the investigation becomes imperative following a viral social media report regarding the conversion of polyethylene into edible oil.

A statement by the agency’s resident media consultant, Tayo Akintola reads in part: ” The attention of the management of NAFDAC has been drawn to viral posts making the rounds on social media where an individual was reporting the alleged frying of plantain chips by a woman who, before she grated the plantain into the hot oil, she melted about 5 of the white polyethylene what we call ‘Olonka rubber’ into the oil.

“It is important to mention that the viral post began circulating on a date pre-dating the day it was said to have been observed and that it did not give any indication of the geographical location (country) of where the practice was observed.

“NAFDAC is a responsible and responsive regulatory authority guided by science. In this regard, the Agency is taking a science-based approach in her response to the alleged claim and will conduct necessary laboratory investigation into the claim”.

The agency, however, urged the public to be vigilant and observant of the foods and beverages they consume, stating, “In the meantime, our advice to the public who consume NAFDAC-regulated food products remains the same and centres around being vigilant as a consumer:

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“Purchase from a reputable source. Check for the NAFDAC Registration Number of the product on the label/package as a sign that it is approved by NAFDAC.

“Stay away from the product if the packaging looks suspect or compromised. Stay away from the product if there is any objectionable smell or colour.

“Exercise caution if the price at which the product is being offered for sale is much cheaper than similar products. We use this medium to reassure the public that the Agency is proactive and remains alive to her responsibilities of safeguarding the health of the public and that a thorough investigation of the alleged claim will be conducted.”

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has vowed to remain resolute in its commitment to rid the nation of the menace of counterfeit drugs and unwholesome products.

This is as the agency affirmed that threats to the lives of its officers as well as the recent negative press concerning the activities of fake drug manufacturers and sellers of substandard food and beverages are not enough to discourage its efforts to ensure the safety of drugs and food consumed by Nigerians.

The agency’s director general, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye has however declared that an expedited review of the nation’s law on counterfeiting would go a long way in addressing the issue. 

Adeyeye said the support of the lawmakers for the review of the extant law for stiff penalties without an option of fine for the offenders was crucial, given the audacious stance of perpetrators in the illicit trade, seemingly undeterred by existing penalties.

Section 3 (1) (a) of the Counterfieing and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 states that ‘Any person who commits an offence under (a) Section 1 of this Act, is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or more than fifteen years or to both such fine and imprisonment’.

Section 3 (2) states ‘Where an offence under section 1 or 2 of this Act has been committed by a body corporate, every person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a proprietor, director, general manager, secretary or other similar officer, servant or agent of the body corporate (or a person purporting to act in any such capacity), he, as well as the body corporate, shall be deemed tobe guilty of the offence and may be proceeded against and punished accordingly’.

Though her proposed penalties were not disclosed, Adeyeye however asserted that stiffer penalties, without an option of a fine, would discourage perpetrators from engaging in such illicit trades.

According to her, the recent exposure of a cartel involved in the production of fake wines and soft drinks in Aba, Abia State, underscores the gravity of the situation.

However, she assured that NAFDAC remains steadfast against the slanderous campaign initiated by those aiming to profit at the expense of the well-being of their fellow citizens.

She said NAFDAC brought the nefarious activities of the individuals involved to the public’s attention to safeguard citizens during the Yuletide festivities, as a caution against consuming potentially harmful substances disguised as cheap wines and soft drinks.

In a statement on Tuesday, January 9, by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the DG expressed dismay at uncomplimentary commentaries in the media, citing the interception of counterfeiters in Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State as an example of the agency’s commitment.

She said the agency would not be deterred by unfounded allegations while urging the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.

She assured that officers from the Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) and Pharmacovigilance and Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorates have been empowered to apprehend those involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit drugs and substandard food items.

According to her, despite numerous life-threatening encounters and attacks on NAFDAC officers, the agency remains undeterred in its mission to safeguard the health of Nigerians. 

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She urged citizens to assist by providing useful information on the activities of counterfeiters, emphasizing, “They live and operate in our midst. We should say something when we see something.”

Adeyeye pledged that the agency would persist with sensitization activities across the country in the New Year, ensuring Nigerians are aware of the threats posed by counterfeit products.

According to her, NAFDAC remains steadfast in its mission to minimize the circulation of counterfeit products, ensuring that Nigerians consume only healthy and safe products. 

She said: “The agency encourages the public to report any suspicious activities or illegal production of adulterated products to the nearest NAFDAC office nationwide. 

“NAFDAC, having achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification and World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3, continues in its efforts to combat the scourge of substandard medicines.”