NAFDAC Urges Global Standard For Chemical Dealers …Destroys Frozen Chicken

The National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has called on dealers of chemicals in the country to adhere to international best practices in the manufacture, marketing and importation of chemicals  in order to prevent its hazardous effect on the people.
This was the outcome of a sensitization workshop for stakeholders on chemical registration and management in Nigeria, organised by the Agency in conjunction with NAFDAC Consulting Limited in Port Harcourt.
The Director General of the Agency, Dr. Paul Orhi who was represented at the workshop by the South-South Zonal Head, Mr. Benson Kine, said that NAFDAC will not relent in safeguarding the people’s health by ensuring that only the right chemicals are manufactured or imported into the country.
He said that the automation of importation of chemical and e-permit portal will soon be deployed by the Agency in the registration of chemicals.
Also speaking, the deputy director in the Chemical Evaluation and Research Directorate, Mr Sikiru  Olowo, said that with the establishment of the directorate, issues relating to granting of chemical permit to qualified applicants is now seamless and expeditiously handled and urged applicants to ensure that they present genuine materials safety data sheet to facilitate quick processing of their applications.
The workshop featured various speakers on topical issues. Meanwhile, the  agency  has destroyed expired frozen chicken with N1.2 million in Port Harcourt.
NAFDAC coordinator in Rivers State, Mr. Mercy Ndukwe, who supervised the destruction called on frozen food dealers and cold room operators in the state to ensure that they maintained adequate cold chain to prevent their product from going bad.
Ndukwe said that the frozen chicken was handed over to the agency for destruction by Saturn Frozen Food Limited when it realized that the product had expired.
She commended the Management of the Company for voluntarily handing over the product for destruction and urged cold room operators to ensure that their cold rooms were in good condition to avoid spoilage and contamination.
The frozen chicken were crushed and buried at a dump site in Igwuruta in the presence of NAFDAC, Rivers State Health officials and management of Saturn Frozen Food Limited