In case you’re planning to launch a product in Nigeria, whether or not it’s a bottle of herbal juice, a pack of cosmetics, or a box of medication, one name you’ll hasty obtain familiar with is NAFDAC. That’s the National Agency for Meals and Drug Administration and Control, the authorities body that ensures the merchandise Nigerians eat are safe, effective, and well labeled.
Nonetheless one assign a question to normally comes up, how mighty does it actually designate to register a product with NAFDAC? The instant answer? It relies upon. The prolonged answer is what this article is right here to walk you thru.
Why is NAFDAC registration necessary?
Ahead of we talk money, let’s be clear about why this task even exists.
NAFDAC is the gatekeeper for regulated merchandise in Nigeria. That involves, Meals and beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, Medical units, Chemicals, Veterinary merchandise, and Packaged water.
In case you’re manufacturing or importing any of those, registering with NAFDAC isn’t optional, it’s the law. Without this approval, your product can’t legally be supplied within the Nigerian market. You also danger having it seized or destroyed if caught.
Past legality, NAFDAC registration is also about credibility. It tells retailers, partners, and customers that your product meets safety and quality standards. For many entrepreneurs, it’s the distinction between staying small and going mainstream.
How mighty does it designate?
Now to the part each person wants to know: the actual designate.
NAFDAC prices vary based on the form of product and generally the scale of your on-line business. Right here’s a breakdown of the standard registration prices:
| Product Form | Registration Charge |
| Pharmaceuticals | ₦70,000 |
| Orphan medicines | ₦25,000 |
| Meals | ₦50,000 |
| Cosmetics | ₦50,000 |
| Medical units | ₦30,000 |
| Chemicals/Insecticides | ₦40,000 |
| Veterinary merchandise | ₦70,000 |
| Packaged water | ₦50,000 |
Microscale businesses registering meals merchandise can pay as low as ₦36,000, nonetheless that typically doesn’t embrace other charges fancy inspection, lab attempting out, or VAT.
So while the base registration charge is important, the total designate of getting your NAFDAC number can accelerate higher while you factor in Laboratory analysis, Facility inspection, VAT and other administrative prices.
What’s all for the task?
You don’t valid walk into NAFDAC, pay a charge, and walk out with a certificate. The task is rigorous, as it need to be when public health is on the line.
Right here’s a general roadmap:
1. Resolve Your Product Category
Your product must fall below a NAFDAC-regulated category. In case you’re not obvious, start with some research or obtain advice from a compliance consultant.
2. Register on NAPAMS
You’ll need to use the NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS). Right here’s the place you submit your application, upload documents, and track your approval status.
3. Prepare and Submit Required Paperwork
These normally embrace:
- Application letter
- Certificate of Incorporation
- GMP (Suitable Manufacturing Practice) Evidence
- Certificate of Analysis (for meals or medicines)
- Trademark certificate
- Product samples
- Fumigation certificate (for locally manufactured merchandise)
- Free Sale Certificate (for imported items)
4. Pay the Charges
Charges need to be paid thru designated bank accounts or NAFDAC’s on-line platform. Sustain your receipts, they’re part of the documentation.
5. Facility Inspection & Sampling
NAFDAC officials will visit your facility (or warehouse) to guarantee it’s fit for manufacturing, storing, or importing the product. They’ll also accumulate samples for lab analysis.
6. Laboratory Attempting out
This part exams whether or not your product meets safety and quality standards. For example:
- Meals merchandise are tested for nutritional snort and microbial safety.
- Tablets battle thru stability exams and may require clinical data.
- Cosmetics need ingredient verification and safety profiling.
7. Final Assessment and Approval
If every part exams out, you’ll be issued a NAFDAC Registration Quantity, the golden seal that reveals your product is licensed for the Nigerian market.
How prolonged does it take?
The average timeline for registration ranges from 90 to 120 working days. That’s roughly 4 to 6 months. Right here’s what that task appears fancy in a simplified timeline:
- Memoir Verification – 10 days
- Facility Inspection & Sample Assortment – 10 to 20 days
- Laboratory Attempting out – 20 to 30 days
- Final Vetting & Approval – 20 days
Nonetheless this timeline assumes there are no mistakes or delays in your documentation. If your paperwork isn’t total or your facility doesn’t meet standards, the task can stretch far longer.
Pointers to Sustain Costs Down and Pace Things Up
- Gather Your Paperwork Correct the First Time
Mistakes in application varieties or lacking documents are the most important sources of delay. Double-test every part. - Understand the Category Necessities
Don’t assume the same ideas apply across the board. For instance, medicines require extra rigorous attempting out than cosmetics. - Engage a Regulatory Consultant (If Mandatory)
In case you’re original to the task, it may be smart to work with any person that knows the ropes. - Plan for Extra Costs
Registration is correct one part. Budget for inspections, attempting out, packaging adjustments, and potential re-submissions.
Who’s in charge?
As of April 2025, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye is the Director-General of NAFDAC. A respected pharmacist and academic, she’s been spearheading efforts to modernize the agency’s programs and make the registration task extra transparent and efficient.
Registering your product with NAFDAC isn’t valid a box to tick, it’s a critical step toward constructing a sustainable business in Nigeria. Positive, the prices can add up, and the task may feel tiring, nonetheless it’s all part of guaranteeing what hits the market is safe, right, and legal.
In case you’re extreme about taking your product from idea to shelf, understanding the designate and commitment of NAFDAC registration is non-negotiable. And when achieved legal? It’s an funding that pays off.
