The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a significant step in protecting the health of Nigerians by gazetting two crucial regulations. The newly reviewed Fats, Oil, and Food containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022 and the Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022 are now in effect.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, announced the development during a briefing in Lagos on Monday. She highlighted the importance of these regulations in line with the 2018 World Health Assembly in Geneva, which aims to eliminate industrially-produced Trans Fatty Acid (TFAs) from global food supplies to reduce Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) on a global scale.
NCDs, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, are responsible for a staggering 74% of all deaths worldwide, as per World Health Organization (WHO) statistics. In Nigeria, NCDs account for approximately a quarter of total deaths, with a 20% probability of dying between ages 30 and 70 years from these diseases.
Speaking on the importance of the gazetted regulations, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said, “NAFDAC gazetted two regulations on fat and oil to determine the minimal amount allowable in foods to safeguard the health of Nigerians. We also have the labelling gazette that will show the quantity of milligrams of fat and oil in our food.”
The main focus of these regulations is to restrict the use of partially hydrogenated oils, the primary source of industrially-produced TFAs, in all foods. The regulations set limits on the amount of industrially-produced TFAs to not exceed 2% of the total fat content in all foods.
The implementation of these regulations will be closely monitored to ensure compliance and effectiveness. NAFDAC has collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Justice, and various Trans-Fat Coalition Partners in Nigeria to achieve this milestone.
Mr. Atanda John, the Director of Food Safety and Quality at the Federal Ministry of Health, expressed the ministry’s commitment to supporting NAFDAC’s efforts through policy and law.
Dr. Jerome Mateni, a representative of the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), lauded NAFDAC for these regulations and emphasized the positive impact they would have on the health of Nigerians. He called for further public-private partnerships to address other health challenges in the country.
Source: News Agencies