The Standard Organisation of Nigerian (SON) has accused a sister agency; the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of not acting within its regulatory purview.
The SON was responding to a letter written to it by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) as regards certain products and responsibilities of some government agencies.
The agency however accused NAFDAC of duplication of function in its statutory role and obligation over some imported items
In a document made available to Shipping Position Daily, yesterday and signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Director General; Dr. Joseph Odumodu, SON explained that diapers and sanitary pads for adults is neither a drug or food item, hence it is the duty of SON to exercise regulatory function.
Odumodu reiterated that SON was given the mandate by the federal government to perform regulatory and oversight functions on all non-food and non-drug products produced or imported into the country in order to ensure that they conform to Nigerian industrial standard.
The letter titled "RE: Double charges by both SON and NAFDAC On Certain Regulatory Product" was dated 13th of November 2015 and signed by the National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA),Mr. Emmanuel Ogu Oparah.
The DG of SON also in the statement, assured the association that the agency will continue to collaborate with it on matters regarding to SON's mandate stressing the need to rid the country of fake and sub-standard goods.
In the letter to ANLCA, SON wrote: "I write to refer to your letter dated 26th October 2015 on the above subject and inform you that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Act, empowers it to exercise regulatory and oversight functions on all non-food and non-drug products produced or imported into the country in order to ensure that they conform to Nigerian industrial standard or other relevant international standards"
The SON boss further stated that, "with regards to diapers and sanitary pad for adults and babies, it is obvious that this product is neither a drug nor is it a food item"
"Therefore , if NAFDAC is currently exercising any regulatory function on this product, then it is not acting within its regulatory purview", it maintained.
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