Nigeria-British Chamber worried over potential impact of industrial chemicals
The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) has raised concerns over the potential impact of certain manufactured chemicals on living organisms, particularly man and the natural environment, which could degenerate to air, land and sea pollution, global warming and climate change as well as ozone depletion, stressing that there is the need for safety in all industrial activities.
The chamber also described plan by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to check double regulations through policy formulation as a welcome development for business owners and investors in Nigeria.
Dapo Adelegan, president, NBCC, who said this at the chamber’s breakfast meeting in Lagos, pointed out that the implementation of the policy will put an end to issues of double regulations faced by stakeholders in industries.
Speaking earlier on a topic, ‘NAFDAC Jurisdiction on Restricted Products in the Chemical Industry and Related Sectors in Nigeria’, Paul Orhii, director-general, NAFDAC, said the agency is coming up with a policy to check overlapping functions with SON to end double regulations. Orhii called on affected sectors to supply the agency with relevant information that will make up the policy.
He said the agency is also working on harmonising its operations with countries within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region to enhance trade.
The NAFDAC DG said the agency is in an era when regulations of chemical and other products have become critical, hinting that it has stepped up its monitoring operations, with its agents strategically positioned at different parts of the country, checking products in shops to ensure that manufacturers keep to standards. “We have situations where people bring their best products for test and produce substandard ones for the public. Now we are doing proper monitoring of products. We have our staff outside now who buy your products like other consumers and take them to laboratory for test to ensure they are up to standard,” Orhii said.
Lara Elemide, managing director, Chemical and Allied Products (CAP) plc, emphasised the relevance of standards in enhancing brand reputation, saying that Dulux is committed to providing quality paint products for Nigerians.
She said Dulux has remained competitive in the Nigerian market with its range of products, offering value for money.
NBCC, a chamber dedicated to fostering trade relations between Nigeria and Britain will in November embark on a trade mission to the United Kingdom with a view to promoting export and attracting foreign investments into Nigeria.