Florence Sadiku
THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has appointed Cotecna Inspection Services as a Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) agent in India.
This move aims to enhance regulatory oversight and prevent the importation of Substandard and Falsified (SF) medicines and other regulated products into Nigeria.
This appointment complements the existing CRIA agents operating in India and China. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasizes that the CRIA scheme has been instrumental in intercepting nearly 200 consignments of non-compliant products over the past five years.
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.
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.
Eighteen-Eleven Media