Calabar – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said that no fewer than 110 producers of consumable products were sanctioned between January and November, 2015 in Cross River.
Mr Isaac Kolawole, head of NAFDAC in Cross River, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar that the offenders were from the state’s 18 local government areas.
He said that they are: producers of fake sachets and bottle water; food products such as: bread, custard, yoghurt and others.
According to him, the agency is working hard to ensure that the state is free from fake consumable products.
“As part of our monitoring and enforcement order, we have sanctioned not less than 10 offenders monthly in Cross River.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“Between January and now, I can categorically tell you that we have sanctioned not less than 110 fake water and food producers in the state.
“Most of the offenders carry fake NAFDAC registration numbers on their products, and this is a violation of the NAFDAC Act.
“Furthermore, these categories of offenders have been sanctioned for late renewal of their licences, non-compliance with NAFDAC directives and others offences’’, he said.
Kolawole said that the agency had also sealed up some of the premises where unregistered products were being produced.
He said that such products were also seized and destroyed.
The state coordinator warned producers of fake products to desist from it, saying that, “anyone caught will face the law.’’
He said that those sanctioned were given a `compliance letter’ in other to help them return to business.
Kolawole, however, said that the business owners must inform the agency of their compliance with NAFDAC’s directives before they could resume operations.
He called on the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the NDLEA to help the agency in its fight against production of fake and substandard products in the country.
Kolawole also advised the public to always check the registration numbers, manufacturing and expiry dates of products on display at supermarkets and stores before buying them. (NAN)
