Association of Industrial Microbiologists of Nigeria (AIMN) has called on the Federal Government to strengthen regulations and empower regulatory agencies with unrestricted access at every port of entry to ensure adequate screening of all materials and products imported into the country to forestall importation of fraudulent materials and products.
AIMN made the call in a communique at the end of the 2023 annual conference and symposium held at the Kano hall NECA House in Lagos; with the theme; “Risk Management of Product Fraud in the Food, Beverage, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Industries.”
The Association also in its resolution at the conference stated that the regulatory agencies should champion a concerted effort with all stakeholders from the academia, research institutes and industries to effectively combat the menace of product fraud in Nigeria and that AIMN should be at the forefront of educating microbiologists in Nigeria on product frauds and approaches to combating them.
The communique states that personnel from the industries should be adequately trained to recognize product fraud and on how to effectively respond to incidents of product fraud in the industries and that microbiologists should seek knowledge and roles in toxicity testing, allergenicity assessment, nutritional testing, GMO products detection, and risk assessment methodologies.
Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in her keynote address, exposed the various classes of product frauds perpetrated in Nigeria, the various strategies and laws enacted to tackle them, and the exploits of NAFDAC in tackling the menace.
The GMD of Drugfield Pharmaceutical Limited, Pharmacist Ekundayo Olakunle, in his address shared from his wealth of experience and exposed how his company and flagship products have been targeted by product fraudsters.
He called for a concerted effort by all stakeholders in tackling the menace.
Source: The Independent News