By Lexi Elo
The Regional Drug Laboratory of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) located in Yaba, Lagos has recorded a major feat with its international accreditation by the National board of American Society for Quality.
The cheering news of the international accreditation of the Drug Laboratory filtered out after a thorough audited and assessment of the quality Management System (QMS) of the entire Laboratory carried out by officials of the American Society for Quality technically known as ASQ-ANSI.
Director-General of NAFDAC Dr. Paul Orhii dropped the hint while addressing regulatory officers of the Agency at the Annual Budget Retreat held in Lagos recently. Dr. Orhii disclosed that the Yaba Laboratory has now joined 4 other NAFDAC Laboratories that have gained international Accreditation in the last one year.
He listed the Mycotoxin, Pesticides, Food and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Laboratories as the 4 Laboratories that have obtained international accreditation.
According to him, NAFDAC is making giant strides not only in infrastructural transformation but also in the area of international standardization and recognition of the Agency‘s regulatory activities.
The Director –General said the International accreditation of NAFDAC Laboratories has positive ripple effect on the current effort of the Federal Government to diversify the economy by boosting production and export potential of indigenous industries.
Orhii noted NAFDAC has made Nigeria very proud as the first Medicine and Food Regulatory Agency in Africa to belong to G – 20 Heads of Medicines Regulatory Authorities drawn from all over the world.
He however assured that NAFDAC Management will continue to be committed to the improvement of staff welfare and provision of conducive working environment for its workforce.