The North Central Zonal Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Kenneth Azikwe, has called on stakeholders in Niger State to embrace the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Registration Scheme.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement meeting in Minna, Azikwe explained that the initiative provides an avenue for the registration of low-risk food products using minimal facilities while ensuring safety standards are upheld.
He also encouraged stakeholders to report adverse drug reactions via the Net Safety App, stressing that timely reports help NAFDAC take swift action, including the withdrawal of harmful products from circulation.
In addition, Azikwe urged the use of the Green Book app, a database of registered products, to verify the authenticity of drugs and other regulated items. He further appealed to those in the agrochemical and chemical sectors to obtain appropriate licences and certifications to help the agency regulate the safe use of chemicals.
Earlier, Niger State Coordinator of NAFDAC, James Kigbu, appreciated the turnout of diverse stakeholders, noting that the meeting was aimed at promoting dialogue, compliance, safety, and responsible business practices.
Stakeholders present including the Agro-Chemical Association, the Industrial Pharmacy Section of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, and the Supermarket Owners Association commended NAFDAC for organizing the forum but called for a downward review of registration fees, which they described as too high.
Other groups represented were the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Islamic Medicine and Prophetic Medicine Association, and the National Association of Environmental Health Officers of Nigeria.
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