Cotecna Appointed by NAFDAC for CRIA Certification
We are honoured to announce that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has appointed Cotecna to carry out CRIA certification for all regulated imports from India.
Our role includes conducting pre-shipment document verification, physical inspection of shipments, and quality testing to ensure compliance with Nigerian standards.
Cotecna's appointment follows the strategic strengthening of the CRIA programme by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting public health and ensuring regulatory compliance at the unveiling ceremony. She highlighted the crucial role of CRIA agents in intercepting non-compliant goods and reiterated the need for exporters in India to engage certified CRIA agents like Cotecna prior to shipment, to avoid delays or rejection at Nigerian ports.
Representing Cotecna at the official technical meeting on the CRIA scheme, Mrs. Lena Södergren, Vice President of Verification of Conformity and Africa at Cotecna, commended NAFDAC’s regulatory approach, calling it “the most comprehensive regulatory programme for food, drugs, and cosmetics in Africa and beyond.”
What is the CRIA Programme?
The CRIA Certificate is issued following a successful pre-shipment inspection, laboratory analysis, and verification of conformity to Nigerian standards. This ensures that all regulated goods meet the necessary safety and quality requirements before entering the Nigerian market.
CRIA Regulated Products
The CRIA Programme applies to a range of regulated products, including:
- Food
- Drugs
- Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)
- Cosmetics
- Medical Devices
- Chemicals (Inactive ingredients, fillers, flavourings, preservatives)
- Flavours & Odoriferous Substances
- Food Colours
- Pesticides
- Food Grade Pigments & Chemicals
- Cosmetic Chemicals
- Cleaning Chemicals
- Titanium Dioxide
- Kaolin
All NAFDAC-regulated products are subject to mandatory sampling, inspection, and testing under the CRIA scheme.
As an authorized CRIA certification body, Cotecna is committed to facilitating smooth trade processes for exporters in India by ensuring compliance with Nigerian regulations.
For more details on the CRIA certification process and how Cotecna can assist with compliance, please contact us today.
About Cotecna
For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.