Should you’re planning to launch a product in Nigeria, whether or not it’s a bottle of natural juice, a pack of cosmetics, or a field of treatment, one title you’ll shortly get acquainted with is NAFDAC. That’s the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management, the federal government physique that ensures the merchandise Nigerians devour are secure, efficient, and correctly labeled.

However one query typically comes up, how a lot does it truly price to register a product with NAFDAC? The brief reply? It relies upon. The lengthy reply is what this text is right here to stroll you thru.

Why is NAFDAC registration needed?

Earlier than we speak cash, let’s be clear about why this course of even exists.

NAFDAC is the gatekeeper for regulated merchandise in Nigeria. That features, Meals and drinks, Prescribed drugs, Cosmetics, Medical units, Chemical substances, Veterinary merchandise, and Packaged water.

Should you’re manufacturing or importing any of those, registering with NAFDAC isn’t non-obligatory, it’s the legislation. With out this approval, your product can’t legally be offered within the Nigerian market. You additionally danger having it seized or destroyed if caught.

Past legality, NAFDAC registration can be about credibility. It tells retailers, companions, and shoppers that your product meets security and high quality requirements. For a lot of entrepreneurs, it’s the distinction between staying small and going mainstream.

How a lot does it price?

Now to the half everybody needs to know: the precise price.

NAFDAC charges differ based mostly on the kind of product and generally the size of your small business. Right here’s a breakdown of the usual registration charges:

Microscale companies registering meals merchandise pays as little as ₦36,000, however that sometimes doesn’t embrace different fees like inspection, lab testing, or VAT.

So whereas the bottom registration price is vital, the whole price of getting your NAFDAC quantity can go larger once you consider Laboratory evaluation, Facility inspection, VAT and different administrative charges.

What’s concerned within the course of?

You don’t simply stroll into NAFDAC, pay a price, and stroll out with a certificates. The method is rigorous, correctly when public well being is on the road.

Right here’s a common roadmap:

1. Decide Your Product Class

Your product should fall beneath a NAFDAC-regulated class. Should you’re unsure, begin with some analysis or get recommendation from a compliance marketing consultant.

2. Register on NAPAMS

You’ll want to make use of the NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS). That is the place you submit your utility, add paperwork, and observe your approval standing.

3. Put together and Submit Required Paperwork

These typically embrace:

• Software letter
• Certificates of Incorporation
• GMP (Good Manufacturing Follow) Proof
• Certificates of Evaluation (for meals or medicine)
• Trademark certificates
• Product samples
• Fumigation certificates (for regionally manufactured merchandise)
• Free Sale Certificates (for imported items)

4. Pay the Charges

Charges have to be paid via designated financial institution accounts or NAFDAC’s on-line platform. Preserve your receipts, they’re a part of the documentation.

5. Facility Inspection & Sampling

NAFDAC officers will go to your facility (or warehouse) to make sure it’s match for manufacturing, storing, or importing the product. They’ll additionally accumulate samples for lab evaluation.

6. Laboratory Testing

This half checks whether or not your product meets security and high quality requirements. For instance:

• Meals merchandise are examined for dietary content material and microbial security.
• Medication undergo stability exams and will require medical knowledge.
• Cosmetics want ingredient verification and security profiling.

7. Last Evaluation and Approval

If every little thing checks out, you’ll be issued a NAFDAC Registration Quantity, the golden seal that reveals your product is licensed for the Nigerian market.

How lengthy does it take?

The common timeline for registration ranges from 90 to 120 working days. That’s roughly 4 to six months. Right here’s what that course of appears like in a simplified timeline:

• Doc Verification – 10 days
• Facility Inspection & Pattern Assortment – 10 to twenty days
• Laboratory Testing – 20 to 30 days
• Last Vetting & Approval – 20 days

However this timeline assumes there are not any errors or delays in your documentation. In case your paperwork isn’t full or your facility doesn’t meet requirements, the method can stretch far longer.

Tricks to Preserve Prices Down and Velocity Issues Up

1. Get Your Paperwork Proper the First Time
   Errors in utility varieties or lacking paperwork are the largest sources of delay. Double-check every little thing.
2. Perceive the Class Necessities
   Don’t assume the identical guidelines apply throughout the board. For example, medicine require extra rigorous testing than cosmetics.
3. Have interaction a Regulatory Guide (If Wanted)
   Should you’re new to the method, it might be clever to work with somebody who is aware of the ropes.
4. Plan for Further Prices
   Registration is only one half. Finances for inspections, testing, packaging changes, and potential re-submissions.

Who’s in cost?

As of April 2025, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye is the Director-Common of NAFDAC. A revered pharmacist and tutorial, she’s been spearheading efforts to modernize the company’s techniques and make the registration course of extra clear and environment friendly.

Registering your product with NAFDAC isn’t only a field to tick, it’s a vital step towards constructing a sustainable enterprise in Nigeria. Sure, the charges can add up, and the method could really feel sluggish, but it surely’s all a part of making certain what hits the market is secure, reliable, and authorized.

Should you’re severe about taking your product from idea to shelf, understanding the associated fee and dedication of NAFDAC registration is non-negotiable. And when achieved proper? It’s an funding that pays off.