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’s edition unveils the guidelines for clearance of imported animal feeds and agrochemicals at Nigerian ports. These guidelines are for the interest of the general public and in particular importers of finished pharmaceutical products and agrochemical regulated products into Nigeria.
It is necessary to emphasize that, no drug and regulated products shall be manufactured imported, exported, advertised, sold or distributed in Nigeria unless it has been registered in accordance with the provisions of Act Cap F 33 LFN 2004 (formerly decree 19 of 1993) and the accompanying guidelines
Please note that the importation of unregistered drug or registered drug product by persons or companies other than those that registered the product should be regarded as a violation.
How To Apply
The application should be by the company that registered the product(s) with NAFDAC or company granted “Letter of No Objection” by the party that registered the products. It should be noted that such importation should be from only approved source(s) as stated on the product Registration Certificate(s)
Documentation
1. The following shipping documents should be submitted for obtaining “first stamping”
i. Electronic Direct Trade In-put (DTI)/Custom printout
ii. Commercial invoice
iii. PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report)
iv. Form M
v. Bill of Lading/Airway Bill
vi. Letter of undertaking stating that the product(s) will not be sold until satisfactory laboratory report is out. Also that in event of the product(s) being substandard or illegal importation, or unfit for human consumption, the product(s) will be forfeited to the federal government for destruction.
vii. Packing List
2. Evidence of valid product registration with NAFDAC
3. Original copies of:
i. certificate of analysis
ii. CRIA (clean report of inspection analysis) for products coming from China.
4. Photocopies of
i. Payment advice
ii. NAFDAC receipt of payment
iii. Certificate of registration of premise by PCN
iv. Pharmacist annual license to practice v. Pre-shipment notice
vi. Form C-30
Tariff
1. All payments to the Agency must be in bank draft in favour of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the following Fees, as appropriate should apply covering inspection and analysis.
2. Consignment of Finished Pharmaceutical Products Prescription Only Medicine (POM)
a. Inspection per 1 x 20ft container or Air Shipment = ₦27,000.00 + 5% VAT
b. Inspection per 1 x 40ft container = ₦54,000.00 + 5% VAT
c. Laboratory Analysis per sample = ₦67,500.00 + 5% VAT
Documentations For Pre-Release/Fast Track First Stamp
1. In addition to the earlier listed documents, the following are required before a pre-release/fast track first stamp endorsement
i. A letter of undertaking to convey NAFDAC officials to the ware house to place the consignment on hold and not allow anyone to tamper with it until NAFDAC officials so direct. And also to give NAFDAC 48 hours notice before delivery of the consignment.
ii. The address of warehouse where product will be stored.
Physical Examination
1. Physical examination of the consignment shall be conducted by NAFDAC with other relevant Government Agencies at the port of Entry.
2. Samples of the imported product(s) shall be drawn during physical examination by NAFDAC and forwarded to the relevant NAFDAC laboratory for analysis.
Release Of The Consignment From The Port Of Entry
1. The Animal feed shall be released to the importer’s warehouse upon a second endorsement at the port of entry. The condition stated in the letter of undertaking in „C (vi)‟ above shall apply.
Clearance Of Imported Agrochemicals
It is necessary to emphasize that, no agrochemicals shall be manufactured imported, exported, advertised, sold or distributed in Nigeria unless it has been registered in accordance with the provisions of Act Cap F 33 LFN 2004 (formerly decree 19 of 1993) and the accompanying guidelines
Please note that the importation of unregistered agrochemical or registered agrochemical product by persons or companies other than those that registered the product should be regarded as a violation.
Application
The application should be by the company that registered the product(s) with NAFDAC or company granted “Letter of No Objection” by the party that registered the products. It should be noted that such importation should be from only approved source(s) as stated on the product Registration Certificate(s)
Documentation
1. The following shipping documents should be submitted for obtaining “first stamping”
i. Electronic Direct Trade In-put (DTI)/Custom printout
ii. Commercial invoice
iii. PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report)
iv. Form M
v. Bill of Lading/Airway Bill
vi. Letter of undertaking stating that the product(s) will not be sold until satisfactory laboratory report is out. Also that in event of the product(s) being substandard or illegal importation, or unfit for human consumption, the product(s) will be forfeited to the federal government for destruction.
vii. Packing List
2. Evidence of valid product registration with NAFDAC
3. Original copies of:
i. certificate of analysis
ii. CRIA (clean report of inspection analysis) for products coming from China.
4. Photocopies of
i. Payment advice
i. NAFDAC receipt of payment
iii. Pre-shipment notice
iv. Form C-30
Tariff
1. All payment to the Agency must be in bank draft in favour of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the following Fees, as appropriate shall apply covering inspection and analysis.
2. Consignment of Agrochemicals
a. Inspection per 1 x 20ft container or Air Shipment = ₦27,000.00 + 5% VAT
b. Inspection per 1 x 40ft container = ₦54,000.00 + 5% VAT
c. Laboratory Analysis per sample = ₦67,500.00 + 5% VAT
Documentations For Pre-Release/Fast Track First Stamp
1. In addition to the earlier listed documents, the following are required before a pre-release/fast track first stamp endorsement
i. A letter of undertaking to convey NAFDAC officials to the ware house to place the consignment on hold and not allow anyone to tamper with it until NAFDAC officials so direct. And also to give NAFDAC 48 hours notice before delivery of the consignment.
ii. The address of warehouse where product will be stored. F. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION 1. Physical examination of the consignment shall be conducted by NAFDAC with other relevant Government Agencies at the port of Entry.
2. Samples of the imported product(s) shall be drawn during physical examination by NAFDAC and forwarded to the relevant NAFDAC laboratory for analysis.
Release Of The Consignment From The Port Of Entry
1. The Agrochemical shall be released to the importer‟s warehouse upon a second endorsement at the port of entry. The condition stated in the letter of undertaking in „C (vi)‟ above shall apply.
