The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it will clamp down on unethical and illegal advertisement of herbal medicines in Kaduna.

The NAFDAC Coordinator in Kaduna, Nasiru Mato, said the excesses and arbitrary advertisement of herbal products had become alarming.

“Herbal medicines or traditional medicines as they are often called are as old as man himself. In recent times, however, the excesses and arbitrary advertisement of these products are quite alarming,” he stated. “NAFDAC is statutorily mandated to regulate and control their manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use.”

The NAFDAC coordinator explained that the products must undergo “mandatory laboratory evaluation and subsequent certification and registration.”

To avoid sanctions, Mr Mato advised the herbal medicine vendors to comply with the agency’s call on them to get registered and obtain certificates before advertising their products.

“NAFDAC is ever willing to strengthen and regularise the herbal medicine practice in conformity with its mandate of safeguarding public health,” he added.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensuring strict compliance and the adoption of massive education and sensitization to put all relevant stakeholders in the know.

The coordinator assured that the agency would continue to do its best in safeguarding people’s lives without putting anyone out of business.

Mr Mato, however, warned that NAFDAC would tolerate unethical practices detrimental to public health and safety.