The ongoing development of the Standards also promotes the application of research and technology to boost the production of foods for local consumption and export.
Speaking at the first technical committee (TC) meeting on food technology standards in 2019 in Lagos, the Director General of SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma. Said that the development would further the nation’s quest to be in the fore front of promoting indigenous production of food.
A statement by SON on Tuesday in Lagos noted that the technical committee meeting is to reiterate Nigerian stakeholders’ as well as regulatory institutions’ relevance in food standardization.
Mr. Aboloma, who represented by Dr. Omolara Okunlola, SON Group Head, Food Technology, advised the TC members to bring their expertise and rich experience to bear on the drafting of the Standards in order to make them practical and easily implementable by Stakeholders after approval and publishing.
These, according to him, will provide necessary guide to manufacturers, promote fair trade practices and assist statutory regulatory activities.
Aboloma enjoined the committee to consider critically, issues bothering on food safety, food quality and fair trade practices so as not only to strengthen the economy, but also to enhance the productivity of the food sector.
He listed the five new standards as; 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
In his speech, the TC Chairman, Prof Charles Ariahu of the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture Markurdi, promised that the committee would 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 necessitate approved specifications to serve as benchmarks.
According to SON, the institutions represented at the TC meeting include Promasidor, Federal Produce Department, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Osodi (FIIRO), NASCO Foods and the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, OLAM Foods, Institute of Public Analyst of Nigeria (IPAN), Nestle Foods and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).