Compliance with NAFDAC Herbal Medicine Labeling Regulations: A Case Study of Herbal Remedies in Lagos State
Olalekan Isaac Olatunde1,2*, Oluwatosin R Kumolalo1 and LeRoy C Edozien1
1Institute of Advanced Clinical Sciences Education, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State
2Imported Food Unit, Registration and Regulatory Affairs Directorate, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
*Corresponding Author: Olalekan Isaac Olatunde, Institute of Advanced Clinical Sciences Education, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State.
Received:
April 29, 2024; Published: May 13, 2024
Abstract
This study assesses the compliance of herbal remedies sold in Lagos State, Nigeria, with the regulations published by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Herbal remedies (n = 60) were randomly selected from the three senatorial districts of Lagos State and assessed for their compliance with NAFDAC's Herbal Medicine and Related Products (Labelling) Regulations 2021. Only 6.7% of the products were found to be fully compliant with the regulations. Of the assessed products, 63% had NAFDAC registration numbers, which indicates that one in every three of the products sold in the market is unregistered or unapproved by NAFDAC. The implications of these findings are discussed in detail.
It is recommended that NAFDAC prioritize post-marketing surveillance, conduct periodic regulatory review, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms to ensure strict compliance with the regulations.
Keywords: Herbal; Medicine; NAFDAC; Regulations; Labeling
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