By Funmilayo Akinyemi
The National Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has appointed Cotecna Inspection Services as a Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) agent in India.
The move aims to enhance regulatory oversight and prevent the importation of Substandard and Falsified (SF) medicines and other regulated products into Nigeria.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement on Monday, noted that the appointment complements the existing CRIA agents operating in India and China.
She emphasised that the CRIA scheme has been instrumental in intercepting nearly 200 consignments of non-compliant products over the past five years.
According to the statement, CRIA agents are responsible for inspecting, testing, and verifying the authenticity of products before shipment, ensuring compliance with NAFDAC regulations.
“The agency has also introduced the Ports Inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PIDCARMS) to enhance document verification and streamline inspection reports,” she added.
Prof. Adeyeye reaffirms NAFDAC’s resolve to work with the Indian government to prevent rejected medicines from re-entering Nigeria through illicit means.
“With the appointment of Cotecna, the CRIA scheme in India now includes five accredited agents, strengthening the regulatory framework for imported pharmaceuticals and other NAFDAC-regulated products.
“Nigerian importers are encouraged to engage CRIA agents before shipping consignments, as only products that meet safety and quality standards will be permitted entry.
“This initiative reinforces NAFDAC’s unwavering commitment to public health and consumer protection through stringent regulatory measures,” Adeyeye said.
