Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has started the process of introducing a code of hygienic practice to sanitise the cold room industry.
The Director-General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, spoke during the cold room and fisheries stakeholders meeting in Lagos.
Odumodu who was represented by the Director, Food and Packaging, Mrs. Margaret Eshiet, said that the code would ensure good practice and enhance efficient storage products He said Nigerians should expect better products coming from cold room operations as the code would ensure that products came wholesome and disease-free for consumption.
“We called all the cold room operators from the small and medium enterprises to multinationals to hint them about this code of practice and also ensure the sector is sanitised,” Odumodu said.
Also, the Secretary, Association of Fish Suppliers of Nigeria, Mr. Amos Iwary, said that the fishery industry was long overdue for code of practice and guidelines.
“We want to collaborate with SON to sanitise the sector which will go a long way in addressing challenges faced in the industry,’’ Iwary said.
According to him, there are existing procedures for importing fish and the Federal Department of Fisheries is doing a great job in this regard.
Iwary said it was important that the storage system adhered to best practices. He also highlighted other challenges facing cold room operations. Iwary said a major challenge was inadequate power supply to preserve products as most members still had to power their cold rooms with their own alternative power.
Overo said in the long, the operators would make profit as the code of practice would help minimise losses. (NAN)
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