Guidelines For Obtaining Permit To Import Bulk Pesticides Agrochemicals And Fertilizers

Shippers Guide is the learning page of MMS Plus. Here we answer the five W’s and H of several issues in the shipping industry. This week we learn the guidelines for obtaining permit to import bulk pesticides agrochemicals and fertilizers. These guidelines are for the interest of the general public, and in particular manufacturers and importers of Pesticides, Agrochemicals and Fertilizers in Nigeria.

It is necessary to emphasise that no importation shall be made by any importer of Pesticides, Agrochemicals and Fertilizers without obtaining import permit in accordance with provisions of NAFDAC ACT CAP N1 LFN 2004. The Importing Company must be duly incorporated in Nigeria with facilities to effect a recall of the product when necessary.

APPLICATION

1. An application for Import Permit of Pesticides, Agrochemicals and Fertilizers shall be made by the importer on the company’s letter head and addressed to the Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Attention: Director, Veterinary Medicines and Allied Products (VMAP) Directorate and submitted to the Liaison office of the Director (LOD) VMAP.
2. The application shall indicate names of items, quantities in metric tonnes/litres, the uses of the intended items and must be signed by the MD or the Technical Officer.
3. The applicant shall obtain the prescribed application form on payment of prescribed fee.
4. The application Forms should be duly completed and signed by the Managing Director and Technical Officer.

DOCUMENTATION

1. An applicant for Import Permit must submit the following documents with the application form:
2. a) One copy of Certificate of Incorporation. (New applicant only)
3. b) One copy of Certified True Copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association.

(New applicant only).

1. c) One copy of Current Tax Clearance Certificate.
2. d) One copy of Certified True Copy of Particulars of Directors-Form C07.

(New applicant only)

1. e) Photocopy of listing certificate as a Chemical marketer
2. f) Copy of previous years Import Permit

(Note: originals of items a – d above shall be submitted for sighting)

1. g) NAFDAC Registration licence (Manufacturers only).
2. h) Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of each the items from the Manufacturer
3. i) Credentials of the Technical Officer with a minimum of National Diploma in related Sciences and a copy of appointment letter and acceptance letter with 2 recent Passport photographs
4. j) An electronic version (CD-Rom/flash drive) containing quantities requested using Microsoft Word, If items to be imported are more than ten (10)

.

LABELLING

The label of the product should indicate that the product is “Not for human use”. The other labelling requirements include:

1. a) Name of product.
2. b) Composition of active ingredient
3. c) Full name and location address of manufacturer, importer
4. d) Batch number.
5. e) Manufacturing date.
6. f) Expiry date.
7. g) Net weight.
8. h) Storage conditions.

TARIFF

1. All payments to the Agency should be made in favour of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control at designated banks.
2. (a) For new import permit, a non-refundable fee of Sixty Four Thousand Naira only (₦64, 000), will be paid to NAFDAC as indicated below:

1. Application Form ₦1,000.00
2. Permit ₦50,000.00 + 5%VAT

iii. Inspection ₦10,000.00 + 5% VAT

(b) For renewal of import permit, a non-refundable fee of Thirty Seven Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira only (₦37,750.00), will be paid to NAFDAC as indicated below:

1. Application Form ₦1,000
2. Renewal Import Permit ₦25,000+ 5%VAT

iii. Inspection ₦10,000+5% VAT

NOTE:

1. Application forms without supporting documents will not be accepted
2. Evaluation of the utilization of the previously issued permit shall be carried out every two years after payment of Ten thousand Five hundred naira (₦10,500:00) re-inspection fee.
3. Only the Technical officer is permitted to process the application to obtain a permit to import bulk Pesticides, Agrochemicals and Fertilizer.
4. Upon satisfactory documentation, the permit issued is an authorization for the applicant to import. Importation without permit to import is a violation that attracts appropriate sanction and/ or prosecution
5. Applicants must have a warehouse, which shall be inspected for adequacy and suitability for the storage of products.
6. Warehouses located in residential buildings will not be approved for use.
7. The Agency should be notified of any change in location address of company, warehouse address, GSM number, or appointment of a new Technical officer; and submit the credentials of the new Technical Officer, the appointment letter along side with acceptance of appointment to LOD (VMAP).
8. Companies manufacturing NAFDAC- regulated product using any of the imported pesticides, Agrochemicals and Fertilizers shall submit evidence of registration of all their products with NAFDAC or evidence of production approval (if new manufacturer).
9. The MSDS shall have the following sub-headings:

• Identification of product and the company
• Composition and information on ingredients
• Hazardous identification
• First aid measures
• Fire fighting measures
• Accidental release measures
• Handling and storage
• Exposure control/ personal protection measures
• Physical and chemical properties
• Stability and reactivity
• Toxicological information
• Ecological information
• Disposal consideration.
• Health Hazard Data
• Spills or Leak Procedures
• Transport information

10. Applicants can commence the submission of application for renewal of Permit from 1st November every year.