The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), intensified its efforts to prevent the influx of substandard and counterfeit pharmaceutical products into Nigeria, particularly from its two largest trade partners, China and India.
Speaking at a stakeholder’s meeting on Thursday, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, highlighted the agency’s strengthened regulatory framework through the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) scheme, which has played a key role in controlling imports from these nations.
“Previously, China and India accounted for 70% of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical imports, but through NAFDAC’s push for local manufacturing, that figure has now decreased to 60%,” Adeyeye said.
“However, counterfeit and substandard medicines from these countries remain a significant threat to public health,” Adeyeye continued.
The CRIA scheme, which is now fully operational in both China and India, ensures that only safe and high-quality products are shipped to Nigeria, while preventing the export of substandard and counterfeit goods.
“Because most of these drugs come from China and India, the CRIA scheme is crucial to ensuring the safety and integrity of imports,” Adeyeye added.
NAFDAC has appointed accredited CRIA agents in both countries to carry out rigorous pre-shipment inspections, addressing the problem at its source.
The agency is also working closely with COTECNA, a global provider of testing, inspection, and certification services, to enhance quality control measures.
“I strongly encourage stakeholders to engage with the CRIA agents before shipping any consignment to Nigeria from China, India, or within Nigeria,” Adeyeye urged.
“You have the option to choose from any of the listed CRIA agents to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and safeguard the quality of imported products,” Adeyeye stated.
In addition, NAFDAC has launched the Port Inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PIDCARMS), an electronic platform designed to streamline the inspection process and enhance document verification.
Despite these efforts, Adeyeye raised concerns about rejected shipments.
“What happens to these rejected consignments? Do they find their way back into the country through illegal channels? This remains a challenge that we must address together with CRIA agents in China and India,” she said.
To ensure compliance with regulatory standards, Adeyeye urged stakeholders to visit NAFDAC’s official website for detailed guidelines on product registration, labeling, and shipment requirements.
These strengthened measures underscore NAFDAC’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from the dangers of substandard and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
