The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has initiated surveillance visits to cold storage facilities and pharmaceutical stores across Kaduna State.

Mrs. Falinyi Benjamin, the agency’s Chief Regulatory Officer for the North-West zone, announced this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday.

The inspections aim to evaluate compliance with NAFDAC’s established guidelines concerning the operation of cold rooms and pharmaceutical establishments. “These visits are crucial to ensure that facilities maintain proper storage practices, especially in light of the recent power outages in the North that can impact temperature control,” Benjamin explained.

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So far, the inspections have disclosed that facilities distributing frozen products are adhering to good storage and distribution standards. NAFDAC has reviewed several cold storage sites, including the state primary healthcare cold room and others in Kaduna North, Narayi, and Zakari ISA, all of which are equipped with solar panels and maintain temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.

Operators handling frozen foods such as seafood and poultry have also been compliant, ensuring that they have backup power supplies for their operations. Benjamin confirmed that food items, medications, vaccines, and other antigens inspected were stored properly.

The agency has committed to ongoing monitoring to ensure adherence to guidelines and standards, emphasizing Good Hygiene Practices (GHP). She urged operators to properly categorize and store various products, particularly food items, drugs, and vaccines, in accordance with distribution guidelines.

“It’s not just about having equipment; operators must regularly check the thermometer readings of their storage conditions both morning and evening,” she advised. Benjamin stressed that consumers deserve access to safe and properly stored food items to prevent potential health issues associated with improperly handled products.

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