NAFDAC Registration Procedure: How to Register Your Product with NAFDAC
NAFDAC Registration Procedure: How to Register Your Product with NAFDAC
Since 2014 till date, NAFDAC has waged an unrelenting fight against the production, importation, advertisement and/or sale of fake and substandard products in the country. This fight stems from large casualties, and in some extreme cases death, caused by the circulation and consumption of fake and harmful products.
To forestall further tragic occurrences, the Federal Government of Nigeria put in place registration procedure that must be completed by any manufacturer, importer, exporter, and sellers of food and drugs product.
NAFDAC is the agency responsible for the control and regulation of consumable products in the country. Some of the products they regulate include: food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and packaged water including all drinks, animal feed and veterinary products, etc.
NAFDAC Registration Procedure
- Registration requirement for locally manufactured good are slightly different form that of imported goods.
- If your company produces different products you will need to register each of them separately. For instance, if you own a company that produces poultry feed and fish feed you will need different NAFDAC registration numbers for each of the product.
STEP ONE
Approach the closest zonal office of NAFDAC to get your factory inspected. When you pass this stage you would be required to submit three samples of your product for analysis after which a certificate of recognition as a manufacturer would be issued to you.
STEP TWO
Purchase a registration form from NAFDAC and fill it appropriately. Remember that each form can only be used for a single product so if you have two products you would need to buy two forms.
STEP THREE
Write an application to the agency stating your intention to register a product. The application should give details of the product name (general name), brand name, and the name of the manufacturer. Address your application to:
The Director
Registration and Regulatory Affairs
NAFDAC
Central Laboratory Complex
Oshodi, Lagos.
STEP FOUR
Submit the application together with your completed registration form and attach the required documents. It is important to strictly adhere to all the requirement expected of you by the agency.
Most people consider NAFDAC registration procedure as frustrating and time consuming. However, if you follow the right information and submit the required documents, the whole process should take you about three months. This is a long time, I know. It is one of the challenges you should brace for as a Nigerian entrepreneur.
STEP FIVE
After a successful registration you will be offered a certificate of registration and NAFDAC registration number for the product.
Requirements FOR NAFDAC REGISTRATION
So many products are regulated by NAFDAC in Nigeria. The requirement for each product is categorized into two broad groups:
- Food and
- Drugs
Consequently, the documents you would be required to submit with your registration will depend on whether your product falls into the food or the drug category. The registration requirement also depends on if the product is imported or manufactured locally in Nigeria
Irrespective of the product you are registering, NAFDAC would only give you a registration number/certificate after your product has passed the quality and standard test carried out by the agency.
REQUIREMENT FOR FOOD PRODUCTS
- Your certificate of incorporation issued by the corporate affairs commission (CAC)
- The certificate of inspection/recognition issued by NAFDAC.
- Comprehensive Certificate of analysis of the batch of product submitted for registration from the manufacturer stating name and signature of the analyst.
- Trade mark approval for your brand name by Federal Ministry of Commerce (where applicable).
- Application form forwarded to the Director stating the name of manufacturer, brand name, and product or products (as the case may be).
REQUIREMENT FOR DRUGS
- Your certificate of incorporation issued by the corporate affairs commission (CAC)
- A signed and endorsed certificate of Pharmaceutical Product.
- Submit three samples of your product for quality analysis and inspection.
- Original copy of the Power of Attorney from the product manufacturer (if imported).
- Completed NAFDAC application form.
- The application letter for registration of the product.
- Letter of invitation from manufacturer to inspect factory abroad, full names and site of plant.
The requirements for registration of imported food or drug products include all those stated above. Other terms and conditions that you would need to meet for a successful registration of imported products include:
- An applicant for a manufacturer outside Nigeria must file an evidence of Power of Attorney from the manufacturer.
- You must provide evidence that the manufacturer of the imported food or drug product are licensed to sell such product in the country of origin and that the sale of the product does not constitute a contravention of the food laws of that country of origin.
- Permit to import samples.
- A letter of Invitation to inspect the factory abroad.
- The applicant must be based in Nigeria who must have a duly signed Power of Attorney from the manufacturer authorizing the Nigerian representative to act in their capacity in Nigeria and with the name of the product explicitly stated.
For more information about the NAFDAC registration procedure, requirements and their state offices visit the website at: www.nafdac.gov.ng. Alternatively you could send an email to the agency at: nafdac@nafdac.gov.ng
CONCLUSION
NAFDAC registration procedure can be a herculean task, tiring in most cases. However, after a successful product registration your product will be generally accepted in the market and you will have more confidence in doing business in Nigeria. I recommend you take the knowledge you just acquired from this article, endure the rigors of the registration procedure, and in about three months’ time you will have a NAFDAC registration number on your products.
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