By Chioma Obinna

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced deployment of e-Reg Portal for registration of regulated products, facilitation of trade as well as ensuring Ports decongestion within the shortest period of time in line with the Federal government 48- hour clearance directive.

• Director Laboratory Services NAFDAC, Mrs Stella Denloye, (left) with Deputy Director, Central Bank , Hajia Umma Dutse, and Representative of Controller of Customs, Mr Ambrose Ukwuegbu, at the Stakeholders Sensitization Workshop on NAFDAC E-Clearance Procedures theld at the NAFDAC Laboratory Complex Oshodi , Lagos last week. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye

Meanwhile, all agencies involved in the clearance of goods at the ports have been urged to properly examine all issues from all consequences to ensure that all procedures are followed and not only concentrate on the problem of delays.

Director General of the Agency, Dr. Paul Orhii who disclosed this during a sensitisation workshop for E-clearnace of NAFDAC Regulated Products in Lagos, said the move would ease registration process for NAFDAC’s clientele and provide necessary automation to manage clientele and their product data more efficiently.

Orhii who was represented by Director of Laboratory Services, Mrs. Stella Denloye, noted that the procedures for obtaining and verifying necessary documentation as relevant to import and export activities among others would also be automated upon full deployment of the e-Reg Portal.

He said: “The Agency has streamlined clearing process control for NAFDAC-regulated products with the International Harmonised System for commodity classification (HS Code) and has also harmonised clearing transaction controls to maximise efficiency while effectively safeguarding the health of the nation The deployment of novel technologies to boost NAFDAC’s operations and the various process automations is making NAFDAC a technologically driven organisation.”

In his keynote address tagged “Port Operations: Fulfiling the 48-hour Clearance Mandate Through Automation”, Chairman, Ports Consultative Council, Otunba Kunle Folarin noted that 85 per cent of all goods that enter Nigeria come in through the sea ports, hence the need to ensure only safe and quality goods are allowed in.

He said in order to comply with the global and World Trade Organisation objectives of Trade Facilitation and the federal government directive to reduce the time of doing business at the Ports, all encumbrances in ports and land borders operations must be checked. He said, “There must be quick and prompt response in data gathering and submission, and co-ordination of physical inspection of statutory agencies.”

According to him, all process that will facilitate working of e-clearance system is imperative and must be established without delay.

While citing the example of recent movement of vegetable produce across international borders, resulting in E-coli scandal, which almost created monumental diplomatic and economic crisis in Europe, he directed all agencies of government and their supervisory ministries to ensure the actualisation of the 48-hour clearing mandate in order to move the country’s economic and social aspirations forward.