The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has explained that it recently shut a Lagos-based Lebanese firm over alleged fake products.
According to NAFDAC Public Relations Officer (Enforcement Operations), Mr. Anslem Okonkwor, the warehouse in Lagos belonging to a Lebanese firm, H and H Integrated Nigeria Limited, was sealed for illegal importation, distribution and sale of unregistered products as well as non adherence to hygienic practices.
The action was carried out in line with the regulatory function of the agency, Okonkwor said in a statement.
The warehouse, located at the Eric Moore, area of city was sealed, following a tip-off, which revealed that the company was involved in the importation and storage of illegal food products, particularly biscuits and cookies commonly consumed by children.
The NAFDAC’s action is coming after a month of a similar closure of the premises of Lagos–based confectionaries and multinational food outlet, Chocolate Royale, over what was described as “unethical practices” and non-adherent to good manufacturing and hygienic practices.
It accused the firm of not adhering to standard hygienic practices, adding that most of its products were stored in an unhygienic environment. The regulatory body added that out of the 50 different brands of products found in the warehouse, only one was registered with the agency.
NAFDAC further said that some of the 49 other unregistered ones which are largely biscut its, candies and bubble gums products for children include, Mr. Magic soft candy, cracker soda biscuit, milk chocolate wafer roll, non–dairy creamer, H and H fruit juice, sprite candy, among others .
The statement quoted the leader of the NAFDAC team, Mr.Babatunji Omoyeni, Chief Regulatory Officer, Investigation and Enforcement, as saying that the warehouse was storing products in an unkempt manner, adding that estimated 1.5 million cartoons of various unregistered products running into millions of naira were uncovered.
Omoyeni, who said the company was into importation, distribution and sales of biscuit products, added that the firm’s managing director had been arrested while different samples of the 49 unregistered products taken for laboratory analysis.