The National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned beakers and manufacturers of water in Nasarawa State to desist from producing and selling substandard products.
Mr Francis Ononiwu, North-Central Director of the agency, issued the warning at a stakeholder’s engagement with Master Beakers and the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP) on Friday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Ononiwu explained that the engagement was part of the agency’s strategy to interface with the stakeholders and remind them of the basic requirements to sustain the quality of their products.
He explained that water and food were essential to the lives of the citizenry and the agency would ensure that the public buys and consumes only healthy water as well as bread.
He further added that bread is one food that every family in the country uses as part of their meals because it has different sizes and prices.
“We are reminding you to know that you have to maintain the quality products that are presented and we see during routine inspections.
“You have to adhere to our regulating and operational guidelines from the source of your raw material to the point of packaging.
“Your products cannot be of high quality and standard when you compromise any of the processes in the stages of the production,” he added.
The Zonal Director of NAFDAC further said that the agency would continue to give priority to protecting the health of the public in line with their mantra.
He added that every manufacturer of regulated products must renew his or her registration within the stipulated period of face sanction.
“We will continue to go out for routine inspections, and anyone who fails to renew his registration or violates the operational guidelines will be sanctioned.
“We have the power to shut down a factory or to seal it and to even prosecute violators,” Ononiwu further added.
Similarly, Mr Matthew Olawale, Nasarawa State Coordinator of NAFDAC welcomed the director as well as the stakeholders to the meeting.
He explained that the forum was a platform for the stakeholders to interface and present their challenges to the regulator to find improvement and improve their relationship.
He urged them to ensure that their documents for registration were valid and advised them against deliberately going against the agency’s guidelines while doing their business.
Alfred Alogala, Former Chairman of ATWAP in the state, lauded the regulator for the initiative and expressed optimism that it would help them to continue to maintain standards.
He, therefore, called on their members to continue to adhere to standard practice to produce water and food products that do not bring diseases or infections when consumed. (NAN).