NAFDAC unveils plan to eradicate substandard products

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control says it is renewing its efforts to eradicate substandard products in Nigeria.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Paul Orhii, told newsmen on Saturday in Abuja that the agency would intensify enforcement of standard and prosecution of offenders to achieve this.
Orhii said: “The agency will amend its law to achieve the goal of eradicating counterfeit drugs and other substandard products.
“We are going to strengthen and increase the use of mobile authentication service and other anti-counterfeit devices.
“The agency will increase and sustain activities of member state mechanism on substandard, spurious, falsely-labeled, falsified and counterfeit medical products.”
Orhii said the agency would also promote and develop a mechanism to regulate herbal medicines to curb misleading herbal advertisement.
He said that NAFDAC was taking steps to increase and sustain grassroots awareness campaign on counterfeit products.
Orhii commended the efforts of government for supporting the agency to achieve it mandates, adding that it would continue to strengthen collaboration with local and international bodies in that regard.
The director-general assured Nigerians that with his re-appointment, he would work harder to ensure that the mandate of the agency was fulfilled.
“I have been given a fresh challenge to redouble NAFDAC’s efforts in widening access of Nigerians to good quality medicines and wholesome foods,” he said.