The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has given food companies in Nigeria an 18-month grace period, until early 2026, to comply with new regulations eliminating industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA) from the food chain.
The move is part of a comprehensive strategy and enforcement roadmap that sets a world-class standard of no more than two grams of industrially produced trans fat per 100 grams of total fat or oil.
Adeyeye: Trans Fat Elimination is a “Moral Imperative”
In a keynote speech delivered during the launch of the implementation of strategy and TFAs regulation recently, the NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said the roadmap marks a decisive shift from policy creation to full enforcement.
“The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative. Eliminating industrially produced trans fats is possible, achievable, necessary, and urgent,” Adeyeye declared.
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The moratorium is intended to allow manufacturers time to phase out old stock, update labels, and reformulate their products in line with the new legal requirements.
NAFDAC’s action targets one of the most harmful dietary risk factors globally, as trans fats are strongly linked to heart disease, stroke, and premature deaths.
Nigeria Builds on WHO Recognition
Nigeria had previously earned recognition from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023 for adopting best-practice TFA elimination policies. With the new roadmap, the country is now on course to achieve full WHO validation of its TFA elimination programme, cementing its position as a regional leader in public health interventions.
