The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a significant step in its ongoing battle against substandard and falsified medicines by appointing Cotecna Inspection Services as a Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) agent in India. This move is part of NAFDAC’s broader strategy to enhance its pre-shipment regulatory control, particularly for imports from India and China, which are major sources of substandard drugs entering Nigeria.
Cotecna joins a network of CRIA agents already operating in both India and China, bringing the total number of agents to nine across these countries. The CRIA scheme is designed to inspect products before they are shipped to Nigeria, ensuring that only compliant and high-quality goods reach the market. Over the past five years, CRIA agents have successfully intercepted nearly 200 consignments of products that failed laboratory testing or did not meet NAFDAC’s documentation and labeling requirements.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized the importance of this initiative in preventing the importation of substandard and falsified medicines. She noted that the trade in such products is a global menace that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. The agency has also introduced a digital platform called Ports Inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PIDCARMS) to enhance transparency and efficiency in processing CRIA documentation and inspection reports.
This development follows NAFDAC’s recent seizure and destruction of over ₦1 trillion worth of substandard and expired drugs from major markets in Nigeria. The agency’s efforts are part of its broader strategic plan for 2025, which includes strengthening governance, improving maternal and child health, and ensuring the safety and quality of regulated products. By bolstering its regulatory oversight, NAFDAC aims to safeguard public health and enhance consumer safety in Nigeria.
