NAFDAC reiterates ban on Indomie noodles importation into Nigeria
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed the ban on the importation of Indomie noodles in Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday, Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, pointed out that the product is on the government’s list of prohibited foods.
Therefore, NAFDAC has not registered the product, and only approves the circulation of Indomie noodles produced in Nigeria.
Adeyeye emphasized that Indomie noodles have been banned from importation into Nigeria for several years, making it illegal to import the product.
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In response to the recalled Indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities, NAFDAC has launched an investigation and is taking extra measures to ensure that the product is not smuggled into the country.
As part of the investigation, NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate will randomly sample Indomie noodles, including the seasoning, from production facilities.
Meanwhile, the Post Marketing Surveillance Directorate will sample from the markets. Ethylene oxide is the compound of interest, and the Director of the Food Lab Services Directorate is currently developing the analysis methodology.
Adeyeye emphasized that the investigation is being carried out with extra caution to ensure that the product is not smuggled into the country.
She added that NAFDAC’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN) and Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) would test the spices used for Indomie and other noodles in Nigeria.
This week, the agencies will carry out tests at the production facilities and in the market. Adeyeye concluded by stating that the public would be duly updated on the investigation’s outcomes.
