Governing council suspends implementation of new NAFDAC tariffs

The Governing Council of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has suspended implementation of the new tariffs that  came into effect on 1st June.

A statement from the agency signed by its  Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, said it was done  to douse tension, and assuage the yearnings of stakeholders in the pharmaceutical, food and allied industries.

The statement said that a stakeholders forum and meeting of the governing council resolved that all NAFDAC stakeholders affected by the new tariffs should revert to payment of the old tariffs until further notice.

The chairman of NAFDAC Governing Council, Inuwa Abdul-Kadir, told newsmen yesterday that the status quo remained, and that NAFDAC would  continue to dialogue with all concerned stakeholders on the tariff review and other regulatory issues.

Abdul-Kadir said the council considered  the inputs of the stakeholders in arriving at a new tariff regime, adding that the new tariffs  would soon be released by the agency after sensitizing the public and other needed procedures.

He said the suspension of the new tariffs was borne out of NAFDAC’s avowed commitment to the promotion of the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

He said: “The need to carry along our stakeholders in decision making is in line with global best practices. NAFDAC will continue to promote the manufacture, exportation and importation of good quality products.

“We need to promote local manufacture of regulated products as part of Federal Government’s concerted efforts to create jobs and increase foreign exchange earnings by our dear nation. Nigeria has potential of producing pharmaceutical products for the domestic consumption and export to West African countries.”

The chairman, who was one-time  Minister of Youths, stressed the need for NAFDAC to procure new laboratory equipment, operational vehicles and other facilities to enable it render quality and efficient regulatory services, and monitor and carry out enforcement activities towards safeguarding the health of the nation.

Abdul-Kadir said the agency would ultimately evolve separate tariffs for the over 35 million MSME operators dealing on NAFDAC regulated products while also ensuring that they adhere strictly to extant regulations without compromise.

The emergency council meeting was preceded by a stakeholders forum held in Lagos  which was attended by representatives of various sectoral groups such as Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of MAN (PMG-MAN), Association of Pharmaceutical Importers of Nigeria (APIN), Indian pharmaceutical Importers, National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Civil Society Organisation and the media.