The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the formalization of the revised Fats, Oil, and Food containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022. This move is aimed at ensuring the well-being of Nigerians, according to Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of NAFDAC. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Monday, Adeyeye also disclosed that the agency has officially approved the Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022.

“In an effort to safeguard the health of Nigerians, NAFDAC has officially instituted two regulations pertaining to fat and oil content in food,” Adeyeye stated. “These regulations dictate the minimal permissible amount of fat and oil in food products.”

She added, “Additionally, the labelling regulation will mandate clear indication of the milligram amounts of fat and oil present in our food.”

Adeyeye stressed that stringent enforcement of these regulations will be ensured to achieve the desired outcomes. She underscored that these initiatives are aligned with the 2018 World Health Assembly’s global objective to eliminate industrially-produced Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) from the food supply chain as a means of curbing Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs).

“The introduction of these updated regulations signifies the invalidation of the 2005 versions, rendering them obsolete and inconsequential,” noted Adeyeye. “The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended one of the two policy pathways for adoption by banning the utilization of partially hydrogenated oils— the source of industrially-produced TFAs—in all food items.”

Adeyeye went on to explain, “The regulations also impose limits on the presence of industrially-produced TFAs, stipulating that they should not exceed two percent of the total fat content in all food products.”

According to Adeyeye, WHO statistics reveal that NCDs, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung diseases, are responsible for 74 percent of global deaths. In Nigeria, NCDs account for approximately a quarter of total mortality, with a 20 percent likelihood of dying between the ages of 30 and 70 due to these conditions.

Adeyeye emphasized the collaborative efforts that went into the development of these regulations, involving partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Justice, and various Trans-Fat Coalition Partners within Nigeria. Notable collaborators include Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), and Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

Atanda John, Director of Food Safety and Quality at the Federal Ministry of Health, announced that the ministry is set to formulate policies to support NAFDAC’s reviewed regulations. John added that these regulations, designed to protect the health of Nigerians, will be fortified by legal backing.

Jerome Mateni, a representative of NHED, echoed the positive impact these regulations will have on the health of Nigerians.

(NAN)