On January 6, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) sealed a Chinese supermarket in Abuja for allegedly selling goods with labels solely in Chinese without proper notification.
After the operation, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Shaba Mohammed, informed the media that the agency had received credible information regarding the supermarket located at Azba Mall, 2 Durban Street, Wuse 2. He explained that the products sold there were all labeled in Chinese, which violates NAFDAC regulations.
Mohammed, who also chairs the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs, and Unwholesome Processed Foods, stated that upon receiving the information, NAFDAC acted swiftly to investigate the situation.
He confirmed that an investigation would be launched to understand why over 90 percent of the goods in the supermarket were labeled in a foreign language and how they made their way into the country. Some of the goods were also found to be expired but were still being sold on the shelves.
“The supermarket was sealed for violating NAFDAC regulations. We will continue the investigation and also inspect the warehouse to prevent further sale of these products. If we had been aware of the situation earlier, we would have taken regulatory action sooner,” he explained.
Mohammed emphasized that selling products labeled in a foreign language without English translations violates the law. “If products are labeled in languages like Arabic, Chinese, or French, there must also be an English translation. Consumers should be able to read the labels of items they purchase, especially when many of these goods are expired,” he added.
The director also pointed out that the supermarket could not provide any documentation proving that the items were approved for sale with labels in a foreign language, which is unacceptable under NAFDAC guidelines.
If found guilty of violating NAFDAC regulations, the supermarket could face administrative actions or other punishments, according to Mohammed. “We may not always take cases to court, but regulatory actions will be taken,” he said.
Before granting certification, NAFDAC ensures that a thorough inspection of the facility, including storage and distribution practices, is conducted to ensure compliance with regulations. Mohammed also suggested that the supermarket might have bypassed NAFDAC during the importation process of some of the goods.
“NAFDAC would not have allowed these items, labeled solely in a foreign language, to pass through the port. They would have been intercepted immediately,” he concluded.
