NAFDAC Seals Oriental Supermarket for Selling Expired Products, Invites Management for Investigation

[justseyi]

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has invited the management of Oriental Supermarket in Abuja for questioning after sealing the store for selling expired and improperly labeled products.

Located in Azba Mall on Durban Street, the supermarket, owned by Chinese nationals, was found during an inspection to have over 90% of its products labeled exclusively in Chinese. This lack of English translations made it nearly impossible for Nigerian consumers to understand the contents of the items.

NAFDAC’s Position on Labeling and Expired Goods

In a statement shared on its social media channels, NAFDAC emphasized, “Products sold with labels in foreign languages without English translations do not comply with NAFDAC labelling guidelines and are illegal.”

The agency further disclosed it is investigating how the expired and mislabeled products entered Nigeria and has extended its probe to the supermarket’s warehouse.

Supermarket’s Response

According to NAFDAC, the supermarket’s management claimed they were in the process of obtaining NAFDAC approvals and translating product labels. However, selling expired products contravenes the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which prohibits the sale of unwholesome items.

Under this law, violators face penalties such as a fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for at least five years.

Public Health Standards and Legal Compliance

NAFDAC also reminded businesses of the importance of reporting expired, damaged, or unsafe products for proper destruction under its supervision, as outlined in the agency’s Guidelines for Destroying Unwholesome Products.

In addition to violating the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs Act, Oriental Supermarket breached NAFDAC’s Drug and Related Products Labelling Regulation. This regulation requires all drugs, food, and related products sold in Nigeria to include English translations on their labels.

Penalties for Violations

Under NAFDAC regulations, individuals found guilty of contravening these laws may face up to one year in prison, a fine of N50,000, or both. Corporate entities risk fines of up to N100,000.

While NAFDAC has the authority to arrest violators, it has opted to begin with an investigation and questioning of the supermarket’s management. The agency assured the public that it remains committed to safeguarding consumer health and ensuring compliance with its standards.

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