NAFDAC GIVES NIGERIAN FOOD COMPANIES 18 MONTHS TO CUT TRANS FATS
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By Sunmisola Shodayo
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has established an 18-month grace period, effectively permitting food manufacturers until early 2026 before encountering full enforcement of regulations aimed at eliminating industrially produced Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA).
This initiative, introduced as a comprehensive strategy and framework for TFA regulation, transitions Nigeria from merely possessing the policy to implementing a world-class standard: a regulatory threshold of no more than two grams of industrially produced trans fat per 100 grams of total fat or oil.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, underscored that the roadmap propels the nation beyond policy formulation to vigorous enforcement and execution.
This information was included in the keynote address of the NAFDAC DG shared on the agency’s official X (previously Twitter) on Friday.
Adeyeye highlighted the ethical necessity of the Agency’s mission.
“The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative.
“Eliminating industrially produced trans fats is possible, achievable, necessary, and urgent,” Adeyeye asserted, advocating for national collaboration.
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The moratorium period is structured to enable manufacturers to deplete existing stock with outdated labels and reformulate their products to align with the legal limit.
NAFDAC’s initiative targets a significant dietary risk factor closely associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature mortality globally.
Adeyeye reiterated the importance of the undertaking beyond mere technical compliance, stating, “The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative.”
This proactive measure builds upon Nigeria’s established reputation; the nation was acknowledged by the World Health Organization in 2023 for implementing best-practice TFA elimination policies.
The new roadmap is crucial for securing WHO validation of Nigeria’s comprehensive TFA elimination program, positioning the country as a regional leader in public health interventions.
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