Stakeholders commend NAFDAC for endorsing Trans Fat-Free Nigeria campaign

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Trans Fat-Free Nigeria Campaign stakeholders have commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control u(NAFDAC) for their partnership and commitment to the #TransfatFreeNigeria campaign.

This view was expressed by the stakeholders at a meeting which had the Director-General of the agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye and top officials of the agency in attendance.

The meeting was called at the instance of NHED to deliberate on the status of the draft of the Fat and Oils Regulations 2019 and the Pre-Packaged, Ice and Labelling Regulations of 2019.

Participants also explored opportunities for working with the agency and other critical stakeholders on how to seek viable alternatives to the use of Industrially produced Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) in Nigeria’s food system.

In 2019, the regulatory agency made a draft of the two regulations available on its website for comments from the public.

The approval of the regulations has however been delayed due to the COVID19 pandemic which has taken centre stage in government engagements.

At the virtual meeting, Prof. Adeyeye highlighted the efforts the agency had put in place to ensure that the regulations are passed and effectively enforced.

She commended the Trans Fat free Nigeria campaign stakeholders for the sustained efforts to see the regulations passed and encouraged them to continue the work with relevant departments of the agency to achieve the campaign objectives.

She told the stakeholders that the draft regulations will go through some processes before its approval by the board and assured that in no distant time the approval and final gazetting of these regulations will occur.

The transfat stakeholders comprising Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), and the World Health Organization (WHO).