Nigeria begins crackdown on bulk salt packages to promote USI |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on [PUBL_DATE] |
According to Vanguard.com and the Nigerian Tribune in Lagos, agents of Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control have begun seizing illegally-large packages of salt - both iodized and plain.� New regulations require salt to be in bags 1 kg or smaller.� According to the story:
Speaking to newsmen during the exercise, the head of NAFDAC, Special Zonal Office, Onitsha , Mr. Benson Kine said the mop up of the outlawed packages from the markets followed the expiration of the deadline of last December 31, for compliance by manufacturers, distributors and sellers to package iodized salt in household or retail pack sizes of 1kg and below to ensure good keeping of salt and retention of iodine content up till consumption point.
According to him, the agency was carrying out the recommendation of the international health association which were made to compel the salt manufacturers, distributors and sellers to package salt in 1kg bag and below.
�He decried the age-long practice of packaging salt in 25kg pack size which he said was poured out into dirty basins and dispensed with dirty cups in open markets.
Kine said such practice was capable of exposing the salt to cross-contamination from hazardous environmental conditions and appreciate loss of the iodine content thereby decomposing fast under harsh weather and environmental conditions.
Importantly, Kine said the on going exercise across the country in conjunction with the United Nations Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was aimed at ensuring sustenance of the feat achieved by Nigeria by being the first developing country to be certified as universal salt iodization complaint nation.
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