The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Niger has sensitised drinks distributors to compliance with good warehouse practices and regulatory standards to protect consumers.
The NAFDAC Coordinator in Niger, Mr James Kigbu, said in Minna on Thursday that the engagement followed complaints from consumers about drinks spoiling before their expiry dates.
He said safe, efficient and compliant supply, storage and distribution practices were regulatory obligations and commitments to protecting consumers from potentially unsafe regulated products.
Kigbu said the engagement aligned with Pillar One of NAFDAC’s Strategic Plan 2024–2027, which promoted communication, media engagement, sensitisation and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the engagement became necessary following findings of non-compliance in the supply, storage and distribution of drinks, which could pose risks to public health.
He urged distributors to embrace modern Quality Management Systems (QMS), which promoted proactive measures to prevent problems rather than relying on reactionary approaches to identified challenges.
“Every sector involved in the supply chain, from manufacturing to distribution and consumption, has a critical role to play in ensuring the safety and quality of regulated products,” he said.
Kigbu assured distributors of NAFDAC’s readiness to provide regulatory guidance and assistance to enable them to comply with stipulated standards and improve their warehousing practices.
Making a presentation on the basics of Good Warehouse Practices (GWP), Kigbu said the guidelines covered proper receiving, storage, supply and distribution of regulated products.
He said manufacturers must ensure proper storage of raw materials and finished products, while supplying only qualified distributors and approved markets to maintain product quality and safety.
“Distributors must source products from authorised suppliers and maintain their quality through proper handling and storage,” he said.
He identified management, personnel, documentation, environment and safety, and building as the five key pillars of Good Warehouse Practices for regulated products.
The coordinator emphasised the importance of proper documentation and record-keeping to enhance traceability, reduce waste and litigation, and boost confidence in business operations and regulatory compliance.
“Warehouses must have suitable structures, impermeable floors, adequate lighting, ventilation and temperature control, as well as sufficient loading and offloading spaces,” he said.
Kigbu added that warehouses should be located away from residential areas, dumpsites, abattoirs and filling stations to minimise potential risks to stored products.
He directed distributors to provide safety equipment, including fire extinguishers and personal protective equipment, and store products on pallets without excessive stacking to preserve product quality.
NAFDAC warned that non-compliance could attract regulatory measures, including seizure of products, administrative charges, arrest and prosecution, depending on the nature of the violation.
He said Section H.10 of the NAFDAC Tariff provided for a N2 million administrative charge for violations of stipulated regulatory requirements.
He advised distributors without compliant facilities to stop selling regulated products until they met required standards, urging manufacturers to supply only compliant distributors as monitoring continued.
Also speaking, Mrs Lilian Egwe, Deputy Director, NAFDAC Niger Office, urged distributors to ensure their warehouses complied with global standards, adding that products should be properly arranged and first-aid equipment provided.
Some participants commended NAFDAC for organising the programme and assured the agency of their commitment to complying with the stipulated regulatory requirements and improving their warehouse practices.
The Chairman of Coca-Cola Dealers in Minna, Alhaji Ahmed Sule, said members had faced various challenges, adding that the engagement provided clarification on regulatory requirements.
Mr Muhammed Suleiman, Minna Depot Manager of the Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), said the engagement demonstrated stakeholders’ commitment to embracing modern warehousing practices and strengthening compliance.(NAN)
