NAFDAC (Nigeria)
NAFDAC (the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) is Nigeria's regulator for food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, chemicals and packaged water. Products in these categories must be registered with NAFDAC and meet its standards before they can be legally imported, distributed or sold in Nigeria, and imports of regulated goods require NAFDAC clearance.
NAFDAC registration involves product documentation, testing, and inspection, and the agency actively combats counterfeit and substandard products (a significant issue in the region), so its approval is both a market-access requirement and a quality safeguard. For exporters of food, pharmaceuticals and related goods to Nigeria, securing NAFDAC registration in advance is essential — without it, regulated products cannot clear customs or be sold, and shipments can be held or rejected. It works alongside SONCAP (for other regulated products) and the Form M process in Nigeria's import regime. Understanding whether a product needs NAFDAC — and building it into the timeline — is critical to trading regulated goods into Nigeria. It is a key market-access control for Nigerian imports.
For food, drugs, cosmetics and related goods, no NAFDAC registration means no Nigerian market — regulated products can't clear customs or be sold without it, and securing it takes time. It is both a market-access gate and a defence against the region's counterfeit problem, making early NAFDAC registration essential for exporters of regulated goods to Nigeria.
What does NAFDAC regulate?
Food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, chemicals and packaged water — which must be registered with NAFDAC before import or sale in Nigeria.
Why is NAFDAC registration important?
Regulated products cannot clear customs or be sold without it, and it safeguards against counterfeit and substandard goods; shipments lacking it can be held or rejected.