THE ROLE OF NATIONAL AGENCY FOR FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL (NAFDAC) IN CONSUMER PROTECTION IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF SOME SELECTED PURE WATER BOTTLING FIRMS IN ENUGU)

NAFDAC was established by decree 15 of 1993 as amended by decree No 1999 to regulate and control importation, exportation, manufacturing, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, the target chemicals bottled water, all non as regulated product.

The importance of food and drugs to man and animal particularly is very obvious.  They need food in order to grow and sustain life.  While life goes on and because of the inherent deposition to illness, the organs of the body may not always function properly.  Such body dysfunction may be due to infection arising from the in take of contaminated food or water.  It may also result from the effect of corrosive or poisonous chemicals on the body or due to breakdown following exhaustive work on degeneration of the body organs.

These situation of ill health provided the compelling need for drugs in order to modify functioning of the body and restore it to normal.  To be acceptable, the drugs must not be deterious to the body but should rather produce a positive effect, which leads to restoration of normal life.  In like manner, cosmetics should have no harmful effect on the body to which they are applied.

It is the duty of governments to protect the health and the citizens.  The challenge in this regard, a part from that of providing treatment facilities for the sick, is to prevent the hazards arising from unwholesome foods, ineffective, substandard and adulterated drugs, toxic and corrosive cosmetics and chemicals as well as contaminated water.