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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Rivers State Traders and Market Women Association have resolved to partner towards checking the incidence of fake and counterfeit products in stores and market across Rivers State.
This understanding was reached during a courtesy visit by the market association’s executives to the NAFDAC South-South zonal office in Port Harcourt.
NAFDAC’s zonal coordinator, Mrs. Chinelo Ejeh, commended the market association for being responsive, and added that the new cooperation will help the agency in its task of ridding the market of unwholesome products.
Ejeh said NAFDAC had not been relenting in carrying out routine inspections across the state and in the markets. This is in spite the fact that “the agency often meets resistance from the market leaders whenever they come for inspections,” She noted, adding that with the new collaboration, more effective and efficient regulation would be achieved.
President General of the market association, Ambassador Edi Bright Chinedu said the association is ready to assist the agency in its task of safeguarding the health of the nation by exposing suspected fake and counterfeit food products in the markets.
He said “my association has discovered that most fake food .products are found in shops, street markets and rural areas and to this end we have set up ‘Trader Marshals’ that will help in fighting the menace,” declaring the market association’s readiness, through adequate collaboration with NAFDAC, to check the ugly trend.
NAFDAC’s coordinator for Rivers State, Mrs. Mercy Ndukwe also commended the market association for their visit and implored them to always avail NAFDAC of relevant information that will benefit public health.
They agreed to work together to check the influx of unwholesome food products especially now that the festive period is at hand.
