In a significant stride towards elevating Nigeria’s herbal products to global excellence, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has unveiled its commitment to enhance the quality of herbal medicines.
This pledge was made by the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in honor of the 2023 International Traditional Medicine Day, celebrated annually on August 31 by the United Nations.
Adeyeye lauded the unwavering dedication of herbal medicine manufacturers across the nation, emphasizing their remarkable progress from clinical trials to NAFDAC approval stages.
She proudly announced the agency’s formulation of guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in herbal medicine production, alongside plans for comprehensive training programs to familiarize practitioners with these essential standards.
Underlining NAFDAC’s dedication to ensuring compliance, Adeyeye revealed that rigorous facility inspections would be conducted to assess herbal practitioners’ preparedness after the training.
This extensive effort will encompass over 614 herbal medicine facilities nationwide, as part of a broader initiative to cleanse and regulate the sector.
Adeyeye stressed that the agency’s goal is to establish a framework for herbal medicine practitioners to meet the highest standards, enhancing hygiene and professionalism within the field.
She outlined the division of facilities into zones and the deployment of NAFDAC personnel, aiming to streamline operations and cut costs effectively.
Lagos, boasting more than 317 herbal medicine facilities, will be the first to undergo stakeholder training.
Following this, NAFDAC will grant practitioners a designated period to prepare for inspection visits by agency personnel. Adeyeye issued a stern warning, stating that facilities failing to meet NAFDAC’s standards would face closure.
Highlighting NAFDAC’s concerns about hygiene in herbal medicine practices, Adeyeye disclosed that the University of Lagos is in the process of establishing a cost-effective manufacturing facility.
This facility will facilitate herbal practitioners with the necessary infrastructure for compliant herbal manufacturing GMP, focusing on cleanliness, smoothness, and moisture impermeability in the building’s construction.
With these robust measures in place, NAFDAC is poised to elevate the quality of Nigeria’s herbal products to meet global standards, ensuring safer and more effective herbal medicines for all.
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