The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has given Nigerian food companies an 18-month grace period, up to early 2026, to fully comply with regulations aimed at eliminating industrially produced Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA) from the country’s food supply.
The move, unveiled in a comprehensive roadmap for TFA regulation, sets Nigeria on course to enforce a world-class standard limiting trans fats to no more than two grams per 100 grams of total fat or oil.
Speaking during the launch, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stressed that the initiative goes beyond policy creation to full enforcement and implementation.
“Eliminating industrially produced trans fats is possible, achievable, necessary, and urgent,” Adeyeye said, describing the step as both a technical milestone and a moral imperative for public health.
The grace period allows manufacturers to reformulate products and exhaust old stock with outdated labels before enforcement begins.
Trans fats are widely recognised as a major dietary risk factor linked to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and premature death, and their elimination is a top global health priority.
Nigeria has already gained international recognition, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) commending the country in 2023 for adopting best-practice TFA elimination policies. The latest roadmap positions Nigeria as a potential regional leader in public health regulation, paving the way for WHO validation of its full elimination programme.
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