In August 2023, the Director General of the National Agency for Food & Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Adeyeye, gave a formal press briefing to inform the public about the reviewed Fats, Oil and Food containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022 and Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022, which renders the 2005 versions null and void.

NAFDAC reviewed these regulations to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. In 2018, WHO mandated countries to eliminate industrially-produced Trans fats – Trans Fatty Acid (TFAs) from global food supplies by banning the use of partially hydrogenated oils, that is the source of industrially produced TFAs, in all foods OR setting limits on the amount of industrially produced TFAs produced to not more than 2% of the total fat content in all foods.

This is because trans fats have been proven to cause heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, which are collectively responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide.

To comply with WHO’s standards, NAFDAC has taken the following actions:

  1. Work with industry partners to find alternative source to the existing partially hydrogenated oils that are the source of industrially produced Trans-fats. (iTFA).                  
  1. Reviewed and upgraded the Fats and Oil regulation 2005 into the Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022.
  2. In addition, the Pre-packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2005 has been reviewed to take care of the labelling requirement for Trans-fats and is now the Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022.

Key Things to Note about the Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022

1. Labelling Limits and Claims for Trans-fats and Cholesterol

  • Nutritional benefits of fats, oils and foods shall be indicated in the label, stating the amount and type of saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, mono and poly-unsaturated fats and cholesterol
  • Fats, oils and foods containing fats and oils intended for human consumption of which the content of trans-fat exceeds 2g per 100g of fat or oil are prohibited in Nigeria
  • Trans-fat and cholesterol free claims shall not be made on the label of your products or in any advertisement except it is verified and proven with the approval of NAFDAC.

2. Offences and Penalties

  • Any individual who contravenes any of the provisions in the Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022 commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to one year imprisonment or a fine of N800,000 or both.
  • A corporate body shall be subjected to a fine of N5 million and every individual who, committed, aided and abetted the crime in the corporate shall be subjected to one year imprisonment or a fine of N800,000 or both.

The Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022 contains clear guidelines on the classification, definition and specification of different fats and oil. They include; Peanut Oil, Black Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Cotton Seed Oil, Maize Oil. Mustard Seed Oil, Olive Oil, Palm Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Soyabean Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Refined Oil or a Mixture of Refined Oils, Lard, Edible Tallow, Shortening and Margarine.

So, if you manufacture, package, import, export, advertise, distribute, display for sale ,offer for sale, sell or use any of these fats and oils, download the Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022 to ensure that your products meet NAFDAC’s standards.

Key Things to Note about Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022

1. List of Ingredients

  • List of all ingredients of a pre-packaged food shall be declared on the label of the pre-packaged food, except for single ingredients food.
  • Foods and ingredients known to be allergens or likely to cause hypersensitivity shall be declared in the label.

2. Name and Contact Information of Manufacturer and Distributor

  • The name and address of a manufacturer, packer, re-packer, distributor, importer, exporter or vendor of a pre-packaged food shall be declared on the product label.
  • Where a product is imported, the name and address of the manufacturer and importer shall be declared on the product labelling.

Download the Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022 for more information on NAFDAC’s guidelines for packaging food in Nigeria.

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