NAFDAC registration is one of the key compliance requirement for both big and small scale businesses. In this guide, you will discover the steps to securing NAFDAC registration for your product in Nigeria and the requirements involved and cost for liquor, bakery and water factory.
The National Agency For Food, Drugs Administration and Control is one of the federal agencies in Nigeria that has very strict regulations.
This is because the agency regulates commutable foods, drugs and all kinds of products that are needed by man on a daily basis.
If you are into productions such as food product, water factory, pharmaceuticals, securing a CAC registration alone is not enough.
Having a NAFDAC registration for your small scale business in Nigeria is very crucial. The agency’s mission is to ensure that products meet regulatory standards for quality, and safety.
Overview Of NAFDAC in Nigeria
The National Agency For Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was established in Nigeria by Decree No. 15 of 1993 but was officially launched in October 1992,
The Agency was established to protect and promote the public health by instituting an effective and efficient regulatory system that ensures only the right quality Food, Drugs and other regulated products are manufactured, exported, imported, advertised, distributed, sold, and used.
Duties of NAFDAC in Nigeria
- Registration and approval and certification of products for sale
- Inspection of manufacturing and production facilities in Nigeria
- Investigation into fake or unregistered products circulating in both local and international markets
- Prosecute violators of the rules and regulations of the agency
- Control imports and exports of products in and outside Nigeria
Who Needs NAFDAC Registration in Nigeria?
The following entities must register with NAFDAC in Nigeria
- Manufacturing companies
- Companies engaging in importing and exportation of consumable goods
- Pharmaceutical companies producing drugs
- Beauty and cosmetic drugs
- Companies selling soft drinks and beverages such as zobo drink, e.t.c
- Alcohol and liquor production companies
- Companies producing chemicals
- Water factory companies producing both sachet and bottled water
- Bakery factories producing bread
- Other medical products and accessories
NAFDAC E-Services in Nigeria
With the advent of technology, every agency and sector in Nigeria is going digital and automating operational activities.
NAFDAC is not an exception, through an e-system, the agency offers the following services
Importance of NAFDAC Product Registration in Nigeria
Below are some of the key benefits of having a NAFDAC product registration number in Nigeria for your products
- It builds trust public acceptance: Consumers of these products will prefer buying from companies that are trusted and licensed by NAFDAC
- Market Access and penetration: Retailers, distributors, and regulatory bodies are likely to request proof of NAFDAC certification.
- Legal credibility: It is a punishable crime in Nigeria to manufacture, market and distribute products that needs NAFDAC approval without a NAFDAC registration. If caught, the company can be shut down and the owners sent to prison.
- Product distinction: NAFDAC registration protects the product from fake ones and builds customer and government trust and loyalty. It also helps the regulatory authorities in figuring out fake products and punishing offenders
- It gives rise to global recognition: Companies can market their products both locally and in international markets with full government backing and approval
- Goodwill boost: It boosts the goodwill of the companies producing the product
Types of NAFDAC Registration Categories
Below are the types of products and categories that are regulated by NAFDAC in Nigeria
NAFDAC Registration Requirements in Nigeria
There are general and specific requirements for NAFDAC registration in Nigeria depending on the product.
General NAFDAC Registration Requirements for All Products
- Product Information: A thorough description of your product, such as ingredients, production process, recipe, quality of each ingredient e.t.c
- Manufacturer Information: For foreign manufacturers, a dossier containing the company’s credentials and GMP certification.
- Labeling Compliance: The packaging and label must meet NAFDAC’s guidelines, showing clear product information such as manufacturing and expiration dates, batch number instructions, and ingredients.
- Quality Assurance Documents: Certificates of Analysis and other documents proving product safety and quality.
- Trademark Registration: Companies must secure a trademark acceptance letter from Ministry of Industry, trade and Investment before proceeding with NAFDAC registration
Specific Category NAFDAC Registration Requirements in Nigeria
Below are specific product registration checklist
- Food and Beverages: Companies must provide data on the nutritional content, ingredient list, manufacturing process, and a certificate of analysis that confirms the product is risk free
- Pharmaceuticals: This is highly regulated because of the risk involved if things go wrong on the final consumer. Companies must provide clinical data, pharmacological details, and a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CPP) for imported drugs.
- Beauty and Cosmetics: Companies in this industry must provide an ingredient list detailing concentrations, along with safety assessments and, if imported, a free sale certificate from the product’s country of origin.
- Chemicals and Household Items: A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and details about product usage, safety, and handling.
- Laboratory testing: Ensuring the lab meets all saftey needs
NAFDAC Registration Requirements For Bakery in Nigeria
Bakery companies that want to produce and sell bread in Nigeria must also disclose the following information as a key requirement when seeking for NAFDAC approval
- Factory location
- Nutritional value of bread
- Ingredients used in the production of the bread
- If the bread has sacharrine or not
- Quality of each ingredient used
- Cleanliness and safety assurance of process and procedure
- Machine efficiency
- Trademark acceptance letter/certificate
- Packaging and label quality
- Shelf-life data
- Microbiological testing
NAFDAC Registration Requirements For Zobo Drink Nigeria
Small scale businesses in Nigeria that wish to produce and sale Zobo drink in Nigeria must meet the following requirements
- Shop location where the zobo drink is produced
- Nutritional value of zobo
- Ingredients used in the production of the zobo drink
- Whether there are additional preservatives
- Quality of each ingredient used
- Source and quality of water used in the mixture and production
- Cleanliness and safety assurance of process and procedure
- Machine efficiency (where used)
- Trademark acceptance letter/certificate
- Bottle packaging and label quality
- Shelf-life data
- Microbiological testing
- Trademark
- CAC
NAFDAC Registration Requirements For Water Factory in Nigeria
- Water factory location
- Machine setup, efficiency and working conditions
- Quality of staff
- Source and quality of water used
- Cleanliness and safety assurance of process and procedure
- Distribution channels
- Corporate social responsibility and sustainability friendliness
- Trademark acceptance letter/certificate
- Bottle packaging and lable quality
- Microbiological testing
- Trademark
- CAC
NAFDAC Registration Requirements For Liquor Nigeria
Liquor and other spirited drinks must fulfil the following requirements to meet NAFDAC approval
- Production and factory location
- Machine setup, efficiency and working conditions
- Quality of staff
- Source and quality ingredients used
- Quality and proposition per each ingredient
- Cleanliness and safety assurance of process and procedure
- Distribution channels
- Corporate social responsibility and sustainability friendliness
- Trademark acceptance letter/certificate
- Bottle packaging and label quality
- CAC
- Trademark
Guide To NAFDAC Product Registration in Nigeria
Below is a step process to registering your factory with NAFDAC in Nigeria
1. CAC Registration
CAC registration is the first stage of every sectoral permits and licensing in Nigeria. Ensure your product is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria.
NAFDAC does not have a designated share capital requirements for companies, so one million shares can go.
However, If your company has foreign shareholder, then such company must be registered with 100 million shares.
2. Tax Compliance
Once you are done with CAC registration, ensure you are tax compliance. Secure the following
- Tax promax registration
- Tax Identification Number
- Tax clearance certificate
3. Trademark Your Brand
Every product in Nigeria seeking a NAFDAC approval must first register for Trademark. Trademark registration is vital in securing your brand legally.
4. Start The NAFDAC Documentation Process
Before you start the registration, you must have secured all necessary documents needed for the registration. This include
- Detailed product information and ingredients
- Manufacturing process description
- Quality control procedures
- Product samples for testing
- Proposed packaging and labels
- CAC documents
- Trademark Documents
5. NAFDAC Online Registration
The process of registration is now fully done online through the NAFDAC e-system. No more long process of going to office. Once you have everything set,
- Visit the NAFDAC registration portal
- Fill in the forms
- Upload all the relevant documents
- Make payment and submit
6. Laboratory Testing
Once the whole process is succesfully done online. Next is lab testing
NAFDAC will send some representatives to come to your laboratory for testing.
The testing is to ensure that;
- There is safety in the production process and all ingredients used in production and safe
- Quality of products used is top notch and harmless
- Authenticity
7.Facility Inspection
Small scale and local entreprenuers will have their fascility inspected.
The NAFDAC agents will inspecy
- Equipment size, quality and efficiency
- Production processes
- Quality control systems
- Quality assurance syetsm
- Just in time system
- Accounting and inventory system
- Record-keeping procedures
- Staff training and competence
- Sustainability and corporate social responsibility friendliness
This is done to ensure companies produce the best products and consumers get the best result with little to no health and safety risks.
8. Final Registration and Approval
Having inspected your lab, fascility and reviewed your application documents, if you tick all the boxes, your registration will be approved.
Upon successful approavl, NAFDAC will issue a unique registration number to the applicant. This can take several weeks or months, depending on the type of product.
NAFDAC Registration Number Check Online
If you want to check and verify the authenticity of any NAFDAC product number, that can be done in 3 ways
- Using NAFDAC Greenbook portal
- Using NAFDAC Mobile App
Using The NAFDAC GreenBook Portal
- Visit the greendot page
- Select the product category, product name, active ingredients, approval date
- Fill in the NAFDAC reg number
- Input applicant name and approval date
- Click to search
Using The Mobile App
- Download the greendot mobile app from playstore
- Follow the guidline to check and verify reg no
NAFDAC Product Registration Timeline in Nigeria
-
Submission of Application: This happens immediately once you submit all required documents on the NAFDAC portal.
-
Document Verification: NAFDAC reviews and verifies the submitted documents. This process typically takes 10 to 20 days.
-
Facility Inspection (If Needed): For products that require site visits such as bakery, liquor, food, water, and cosmetics, the agency will have to conduct a facility inspection. This usually takes 10 to 30 days
-
Product Testing (If Required):This stage can take 20 to 40 days depending on the product type and lab queue.
-
Approval and Issuance of NAFDAC Registration Number: Once all checks are completed, NAFDAC issues the final approval and certificate. This stage takes approximately 30 to 60 days.
Cost of NAFDAC Registration in Nigeria
Below is a simple breakdown of NAFDAC fees in Nigeria. This also consist of 7.5% VAT.
Small Scale Businesess
- Food Product: ₦50,000 (including break, bakery)
- Cosmetic Product: ₦50,000
Other Product Categories
- Chemicals: ₦40,000
- Medical Devices: ₦30,000
- Soft drinks such as zobo drink: ₦50,000
- Water (sachet): ₦50,000
- Water (bottle): ₦70,000
- Food Products (non-MSME): ₦50,000
- Cosmetics (non-MSME): ₦50,000
- Orphan Drugs: ₦25,000
- Pharmaceuticals and Veterinary Products: ₦70,000
- Micro Enterprise: ₦15,000
- Small Scale: ₦30,000
- Medium/Large Scale: ₦40,000
Finally, if you decide to employ the services of a consultant for your NAFDAC registration, the total cost should be around ₦200,000 to ₦600,000 depending on the complexity.
From CAC to branding to Trademark to NAFDAC registration.
NAFDAC Registration Consultant in Nigeria
The procedure to registering your product with NAFDAC can be complicated for businessess who have little to know experience.
With CAC registration, branding, trademark and finally NAFDAC, you need a NAFDAC registration expert and consultant to help in procesing the documentation, process and filing.
Legacy Benjamin Consult remains the best consultant for your NAFDAC CAC and Trademark Registration. Send us a WhatsApp DM 08066108299
Common Mistakes That Delay NAFDAC Approval
- Wrong CAC registration structure
- Wrong labeling
- Unapproved ingredients
- Unfavourable location of factory (polluted environment)
- Poor factory hygiene
- Lack of proper safety measures for staff
- Incomplete documentation
- Wrong product categorization
FAQs On NAFDAC Product Registration Requirements in Nigeria
Q: How much does it cost to register a product with NAFDAC in Nigeria?
A: It costs about ₦200,000 to ₦600,000
Q: What are the NAFDAC registration requirements for food products?
A: Good factory, ingredients list, quality assurance, good production process, health safety of staffs, quantity of ingredients used
Q: How much is NAFDAC registration for bread and bakery products?
A: It costs ₦50,000
Q: Can a small business register with NAFDAC without a factory?
A: Yes. But it depends
Q: How do I check a NAFDAC registration number online?
A: Visit the grenbook page, input the NAFDAC no, product name, registration date and applicate name to check
Q: How long does NAFDAC registration take?
A: The whole documentation process take 60 to 90 days
Q: Do I need NAFDAC for non-food items?
A: Yes. Especially if you deel in pharmaceitcal industry, beauty and comsmetics
Q: Can I start selling while my NAFDAC registration is in progress?
A: No. You could be arrested, fined and even penalized for doing trade first without NAFDAC approval
Q: How do I register a bakery business with NAFDAC?
A: Get all documennts ready and complete the application form
Q: What is the NAFDAC registration fee for bakery in Nigeria?
A: ₦50,000
Q: What is the NAFDAC registration cost for liquor and water factory in Nigeria?
A: Liquor: ₦50,000, Water (sachet): ₦50,000, Water (bottle): ₦70,000
Q: What is the easiest way to process NAFDAC registration?
A: Employ the services of a consultant
Conclusion:
In closing, I hope this article has provided a comprehensive summary on all the requirements including documents and costs you need for product registration with NAFDAC in Nigeria online.
If you need further inquiries or want to make contributions, leave a comment below.






