The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially published the revised Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022, with the aim of safeguarding the health of Nigerians.
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, announced this development during a briefing held in Lagos on Monday. She also revealed that the agency had gazetted the Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022.
This initiative aligns with the 2018 World Health Assembly held in Geneva, which aimed to eliminate industrially-produced Trans Fatty Acid (TFAs) from global food supplies in order to mitigate Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) on a global scale.
Citing statistics from the World Health Organisation, Professor Adeyeye highlighted that NCDs, encompassing heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, account for 74 percent of global deaths. In Nigeria, NCDs are estimated to contribute to a quarter of total deaths, with a 20 percent likelihood of mortality between the ages of 30 and 70 years due to NCDs.
“NAFDAC has established two regulations concerning fat and oil to stipulate the permissible minimum content in foods, thereby ensuring the well-being of Nigerians,” Professor Adeyeye affirmed.
She emphasized that the labelling regulation will display the quantity of milligrams of fat and oil in food products.
The introduction of these updated regulations nullifies the relevance of the 2005 versions, ensuring clarity in guidelines for industry practices.
“The quality of our diet holds life-and-death implications, and we are committed to ensuring Nigerians are not exposed to hazardous food choices. The World Health Organization has advocated for the elimination of industrially-produced TFAs, primarily from partially hydrogenated oils, in all food items. This can be achieved by establishing limits for industrially-produced TFAs, not exceeding two percent of the total fat content in all foods,” the NAFDAC DG explained.
Professor Adeyeye assured that the enforcement of these regulations will be rigorously pursued to achieve the intended outcomes.
She noted that NAFDAC collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Justice, and other stakeholders to realize the goals of these regulations, focusing on public health enhancement.
Mr. Atanda John, the Director of Food Safety and Quality at the Federal Ministry of Health, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the regulatory reforms initiated by NAFDAC.
These regulations, designed to protect the health of Nigerians, will be reinforced by legal frameworks.
Representing the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Dr. Jerome Mateni lauded NAFDAC’s efforts and highlighted the positive impact these regulations will have on public health. He encouraged further collaboration between public and private sectors to enhance the overall health landscape of Nigeria.
