NAFDAC Invites Chinese Oriental Supermarket for Questioning Over Alleged Expired, Mislabelled Products
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has summoned the management of Oriental Supermarket, situated in Azba Mall on Durban Street, Abuja, for questioning following the discovery of expired and improperly labelled products during an inspection.
The supermarket, owned by Chinese nationals, was sealed after the operation.
In a statement shared on Tuesday via its social media platforms, NAFDAC explained that over 90% of the products on display at the supermarket bore labels exclusively in Chinese, leaving Nigerian consumers unable to comprehend the product details.
The agency emphasised that products sold without English translations violate its labelling guidelines and are therefore deemed illegal.
“Products sold with labels in foreign languages without English translations do not comply with NAFDAC labelling guidelines and are illegal. We have invited the supermarket’s management for further investigation,” the statement read.
The agency further disclosed that it had launched an investigation into how the expired and improperly labelled products entered the country.
The probe has now extended to the supermarket’s warehouse, where additional checks are being conducted.
According to NAFDAC, the supermarket’s management claimed they were in the process of securing the necessary approvals and translating the product labels to meet regulatory standards.
Under Nigeria’s Counterfeit and Fake Drugs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, the sale of expired products is a criminal offence that attracts penalties, including fines of up to N500,000 or imprisonment for no less than five years.
NAFDAC also mandates businesses to report expired, damaged, or unsafe products for supervised destruction to protect public health.
In addition to contravening the Act, the supermarket’s failure to provide English translations violates the NAFDAC Drug and Related Products Labelling Regulation, which requires all drugs, food, and related products in Nigeria to be labelled in English, although additional languages may be included.
Individuals found guilty of violating these regulations may face fines of up to N50,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. For corporate offenders, fines can reach up to N100,000.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its authority to arrest and prosecute individuals or entities found in breach of the Food and Drugs Act and related regulations.
As the investigation into Oriental Supermarket continues, the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring compliance with Nigerian labelling and product safety standards must not be compromised.
