FG Develops Five New Standards for Indigenous Foods

As part of the Federal Government’s effort to promote agriculture as the basis of the economic diversification agenda, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has coordinated the drafting of five new standards on indigenous foods.

The on-going development of the Standards also promotes the application of research and technology to boost the production of foods for local consumption and export.
Disclosing this at the first Technical Committee (TC) meeting on food technology standards in 2019 in Lagos, SON Director General, Osita Aboloma, said that the development is to further the nation’s quest to be in the fore front of promoting indigenous production of food.

According to him, the technical committee meeting is to also reiterate Nigerian stakeholders’ relevance in food standardisation.
Represented by Dr. Mrs. Omolara Okunlola, SON’s Group Head, Food Technology, he said that the standards would provide necessary guide to manufacturers, promote fair trade practices and assist statutory regulatory activities.
Aboloma enjoined the committee to critically consider issues bothering on food safety, food quality and fair trade practices so as not only to strengthen the economy but to enhance the productivity of the food sector.

He listed the five new standards to include standard for packaged millet flour for pap, standard for corn pap powder, standard for packaged sorghum powder for pap, standard for fonio flour (Acha flour) and standard for Acha.
The TC Chairman, Prof. Charles Ariahu of the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Markurdi, promised that the committee will carry out its responsibilities diligently.
He enjoined members of the TC to ensure strict compliance with the Standards’ development guidelines and endeavour to contribute their opinions and positions freely.

According to him, some of the products to be considered are indigenous, have been in existence over the years and are already being traded across borders, thus the need for approved specifications to serve as benchmarks.
Institutions represented at the TC meeting include Promasidor, Federal Produce Department, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), NASCO Foods and the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Others were the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, OLAM Foods, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), Nestle Foods and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

February 07, 2019