NAFDAC Insists on Mandatory Registration for Packaged Zobo, Tigernut Drinks
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated that all locally manufactured packaged food and beverages, including zobo and tigernut drinks, must be registered with the agency before they can be legally sold in Nigeria.
The agency explained that all packaged food products must undergo safety assessments and laboratory tests to confirm they are fit for human consumption before being introduced into the market.
NAFDAC’s Resident Media and Communication Consultant, Sayo Akintola, said the registration requirement applies to all businesses, regardless of their size, involved in manufacturing, importing, distributing or selling products under the agency’s regulated categories.
He emphasised that laboratory testing of product samples is necessary to verify their safety and ensure that consumers are not exposed to harmful substances.
“Samples of your products must undergo NAFDAC laboratory testing to ensure that what you claim is food is not poison in disguise. It’s the responsibility of the Agency to safeguard the health of the Nation,” Akintola said.
He also warned that businesses selling regulated products without valid NAFDAC registration risk having their products seized, production facilities shut down and facing prosecution under federal law.
The clarification follows a viral video showing police officers questioning a woman selling bottled zobo drinks and requesting the products’ NAFDAC registration number and appropriate labels.
NAFDAC maintained that registration is a mandatory requirement for packaged food and beverage products, stressing that the measure is aimed at protecting public health and ensuring that products available in Nigerian markets meet the required safety standards.
NAFDAC Insists on Mandatory Registration for Packaged Zobo, Tigernut Drinks