Effective from 27/03/2023,the guidelines issued by the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for the registration of bulk/Semi-Processed food products meant for export are for the interest of the public and in particular, manufacturers/exporters of food products.
It is necessary to emphasize that, no food product shall be manufactured, imported, exported, advertised, sold, distributed or used in Nigeria unless it has been registered in accordance with the provisions of NAFDAC Act CAP N1 (LFN) 2004, other related legislations and the accompanying guidelines.
This article will thus be focused on the procedures and requirements for the registration of food products for export in detail.
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What is the procedure for registration application as prescribed by the guidelines?
-A written application for the registration of bulk/semi-processed food product for export should be made on the company’s letter head to the Director-General ,NAFDAC.
-An online application form for the registration of bulk/semi-processed food product for export should be purchased, completed and submitted as well.
-A separate application form shall be submitted for each product.
What are the provisions of the guidelines on product labeling information?
-Labeling should be informative, accurate and in conformance with the Agency’s Food Labeling Regulations and any other relevant Regulations.
What are the steps involved in product registration under the guidelines?
Step I
Documentation
-The application letter for registration of bulk/semi processed food products for export.
-Evidence of Business Incorporation.
-Evidence of payment.
-Contract Manufacturing Agreement (where applicable).
-Evidence of Registration of Brand Name with Trademark Registry in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (where applicable). This should be done in the name of the owner of the Trademark/Brand name, as the case may be.
-Product Labels/artworks.
-Comprehensive Certificates of Analysis of the product for export and product specification from country of destination.
Step II
Product Approval Meeting
– Upon satisfactory documentation review, GMP inspection report of the production facility and laboratory analysis report of the product, applicant is issued a NAFDAC Registration Number subject to ratification at approval meeting.
What are the tariff prescriptions under the guidelines?
Tariff prescriptions are subject to NAFDAC Tariff stipulations on its website.
What are the cautionary notes provided by the guidelines?
– Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the disqualification of the application or lead to considerable delay in the processing of registration.
-A successful application will be issued a Certificate of Registration with a validity period of two (2) years.
– Registration of a product does not automatically confer Advertising Permit. A separate application and subsequent approval by the Agency shall be required if the product is to be advertised. Simultaneous submission of registration and advertisement applications are allowed.
-NAFDAC reserves the right to revoke, suspend or vary a certificate during its validity period.
-Filing an application or paying an application fee does not confer registration status.
-Failure to respond promptly to queries or enquiries raised by NAFDAC on the application (within 90 working days) will automatically lead to the closure of the Application.
-The timeline for processing approvals for export of bulk/semi-processed food products starting from receipt of application by NAFDAC is twenty-five (25) working days and the breakdown is as follows:
a). Issuance of request for inspection by NAFDAC – 2 days;
b). Label vetting by NAFDAC – 2 days;
c). Inspection by FSAN – 3 days;
d). Lab analysis – 8 days, Review and issuance of NAFDAC;
e) Registration Number by NAFDAC– 4 days,
f). Issuance of Export certificate by PID – 6 days.
-Please note that the clock stops once compliances are issued.
All correspondences should be addressed toDirector-General, (NAFDAC).