Supermarkets Must Ensure Product Safety, Says NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on supermarket owners to ensure that products sold to consumers are safe and comply with global listing guidelines and regulatory standards. The agency’s Director for the South-South Zone, Chukwuma Oligbu, made the appeal at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop for supermarket owners in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday.

Oligbu emphasized that the workshop was aimed at sensitizing operators on NAFDAC regulations, compliance requirements, and consumer safety. He noted that supermarkets play a critical role in ensuring that safe, quality, and regulated products reach the public, and urged operators to adhere strictly to regulatory requirements and best operational practices.

According to Oligbu, NAFDAC’s oversight is not meant to hinder business growth but to protect public health and promote ethical business operations. He advised supermarket owners to source and store products in line with global regulatory standards and to train their staff to understand compliance guidelines.

Professor Alice Nte, a breast milk nutrition expert from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, highlighted regulations prohibiting the promotion and advertisement of breast milk substitutes in supermarkets. She stressed the importance of breastfeeding, noting that breast milk helps protect infants from diseases and infections, while also reducing health risks for nursing mothers.

NAFDAC’s Deputy Director for the South-South Zone, Riter Chukwuma, briefed participants on global product listing guidelines, emphasizing the need for strict compliance to avoid confiscation of imported goods. The agency is keen on promoting compliance with regulations to safeguard consumer health and safety.