News in brief:
– NAFDAC has reiterated the ban on frozen chicken, turkey, and catfish imports into Nigeria, emphasising economic concerns linked to smuggling.
– The agency urges traders to support local producers and follow safety guidelines to ensure food quality during the festive season.
Ahead of the Christmas festive season, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shared a timely reminder: imported frozen chicken is still banned in Nigeria.
The ban includes frozen turkey and catfish, as the agency mentioned during a public engagement at Abuja’s popular Kado Fish Market. Also, besides importing these items, distributing and selling them is illegal.
This reminder is important because of the high infiltration of imported food items at the year’s end. Rising demand often encourages sellers to seek alternative suppliers when local production fails to fulfil their needs.
Kenneth Azikiwe, NAFDAC’s Abuja Director, further encouraged traders to use proper storage facilities for frozen products to maintain safety and quality. In line with the federal government’s promise to promote local products and producers, he urged market people to patronise manufacturers registered with the agency.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Mohammed, Chairman of the Abuja Fish and Frozen Food Sellers Association, assured the officials that members would comply with the guidelines. He advised that the agency should implement enforcement measures reasonably.
Although the importation ban is focused on economic effects, there are health dangers as well.
For example, many of these products are smuggled into the country through illegal channels, bypassing proper inspection and quality control processes. There is no way to guarantee the safety of the products for human consumption.
During transit, frozen poultry and fish are often stored in substandard conditions where the cold chain is not adequately maintained. This can result in the growth of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli, which cause foodborne illnesses. The consumption of such contaminated products can lead to outbreaks of diseases.
These issues highlight the urgent need for stricter regulations and enforcement to curb the importation of frozen chicken, turkey, and catfish, while promoting sustainable local alternatives like guinea fowl.
