NAFDAC Shuts Down Water Factories

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has revealed that the agency sealed off 27 packaged water companies over unsatisfactory Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), with over 2000 others registered within eight months.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who spoke through her representative and Director, Public Affairs, NAFDAC, Dr. Jimoh Abubakar, warned producers of packaged water in the country against compromising standards as it would not hesitate to seal the factory.

Abubakar, tasked producers of packaged water to be conscious of the enabling law on production of package water to avoid being on the wrong side of the law.

Adeyeye, spoke at the National Convention of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria, ATWAP, with a theme:” Developing a packaged water industry as a catalyst to economic growth and a greener economic in Nigeria” held in Abuja.

“Between January and August, 2021, we have over 2,153 water manufacturing outlets that have registered in Nigeria. Also, between January and August this year, we have shut down 27 companies, packaged water industries that are not compliant. They are under seal, they have been sealed off and they will have to comply with good manufacturing practices before they are reopened,” the agency’s boss said.

NAFDAC explained that its action sealing off the companies for poor standard was part of its efforts towards sustaining good hygiene in the packaged water industry and for a greener environment.

She spoke on the mandate of the agency in ensuring safe packaged water in the country, thus: “We set the guidelines and also point out the way forward in terms of good manufacturing practices. But it is for them, after obtaining the NADFAC registration, to go back and do what is right. We are here to partner with them and also show some solidarity so that they can continue to do what is right because NAFDAC as a regulatory agency, we are friends of the industry, so we need to close that gap.”