NAFDAC Gives Nigerian Food Companies 18 Months to Eliminate Trans Fats
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced an 18-month compliance window for food manufacturers and processors in Nigeria to eliminate industrially produced Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA) from their products.
The regulatory agency stated that the grace period, which lapses by early 2026, is intended to give companies sufficient time to reformulate their products in line with the newly approved “Fats, Oils, and Food Containing Fats and Oils Regulation, 2023.”
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, emphasizing that the regulation is part of Nigeria’s strategy to safeguard public health and reduce diet-related diseases. She explained that excessive consumption of trans fats is a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, obesity, and other non-communicable diseases that account for thousands of preventable deaths annually.
“Industrially produced trans fats have no known health benefits and are toxic to human health. With this regulation, we are taking a bold step towards protecting Nigerians, especially our young population, from food-related health risks,” Adeyeye said.
The DG added that the regulations set a maximum limit of 2 grams of trans fats per 100 grams of total fat content in all foods, aligning Nigeria with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “REPLACE” action package, which advocates the global elimination of industrially produced TFAs by 2025.
She further warned that after the grace period, full enforcement would commence, and defaulters would face strict sanctions, including product recalls, fines, and possible closure of non-compliant facilities.
Public health experts have lauded the move as a milestone in Nigeria’s food safety reforms, noting that it will push companies to adopt healthier alternatives such as unsaturated fats and oils. However, some stakeholders in the food industry have appealed for technical and financial support to aid reformulation and compliance.
Nigeria joins a growing number of countries implementing trans fat regulations as part of global efforts to cut diet-related mortality. According to the WHO, eliminating trans fats from the food supply could prevent up to 500,000 deaths worldwide each year.
