Navigate NAFDAC, SON, and product compliance requirements across Nigeria and Africa. Clear, practical guidance for manufacturers.
Understanding who regulates what is the first step to compliance.
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control
Food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water
All regulated products must be registered before commercial sale
Standards Organisation of Nigeria
Industrial standards, quality assurance, product certification
Products must meet NIS (Nigerian Industrial Standards) for labelling, quality, and safety
National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency
Environmental compliance, waste management, emissions
Manufacturing facilities must comply with environmental impact assessment requirements
Detailed compliance information for key African markets.
Any manufacturer or importer of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, or chemicals intended for sale in Nigeria.
Product labelling, quality marks (NIS mark), mandatory conformity assessment for locally manufactured and imported products.
For imported products, a SONCAP Certificate of Conformity is required before shipping goods to Nigeria.
Manufacturers with chemical waste, emissions, or effluent discharge from their production processes.
Food and Drugs Authority
Ghana Standards Authority
Kenya Bureau of Standards
Pharmacy and Poisons Board
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority
South African Bureau of Standards
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications
Follow these steps to ensure your products meet regulatory requirements.
Identify your product category and applicable regulatory body
Prepare your product dossier (formulation, ingredients, lab tests)
Register your manufacturing facility
Apply for product registration or certification
Ensure labelling meets local standards (ingredients, batch number, expiry, manufacturer details)
Schedule facility inspection
Maintain records for audit and renewal
Plan for certificate renewal (typically every 3 – 5 years)
Quick answers to common regulatory and compliance questions.
Yes. All cosmetics sold in Nigeria must be registered with NAFDAC. This applies to both locally manufactured and imported products. Selling unregistered cosmetics is illegal and may result in product seizure, fines, or prosecution.
Fees vary by product category. Food products, cosmetics, and household chemicals each have different fee schedules. Expect to pay between ₦50,000 and ₦500,000 depending on the category, plus costs for lab testing, facility upgrades, and professional consultants if needed.
No. Commercial sale before registration is complete is prohibited. You must wait until your Certificate of Registration is issued before distributing or selling the product. Selling unregistered products can lead to penalties and criminal charges.
NAFDAC officers will inspect your manufacturing premises to verify compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. They will review your production area, storage facilities, equipment, hygiene practices, quality control processes, and record-keeping. Ensure your facility is clean, well-maintained, and properly documented before the visit.
Yes. If exporting to other countries, you need to meet the destination country's regulatory requirements in addition to Nigerian standards. Each country has its own registration process. For example, exporting to Ghana requires FDA Ghana registration, while Kenya requires KEBS certification.
Our team can guide you through regulatory requirements, connect you with accredited laboratories for product testing, and help prepare your product dossier. We also provide formulation support that takes compliance into account from the start, so you can avoid costly reformulations later.
Our team can guide you through the registration process, connect you with accredited labs, and help you get to market faster.