FCCPC cautions importers against unsafe substitutes

In a bid to ensure safety, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has warned importers, manufacturers, distributors and other operators in the bakery and confectionery business against compromising food safety, using unsafe substitutes and misleading consumers as rising production costs put pressure on their businesses.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, gave the warning on Tuesday at a stakeholder engagement with bakery and confectionery operators organised by the South-West Zonal Office of the commission at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, according to a statement obtained by The PUNCH.

Bello, who was represented at the event by the South-West Zonal Coordinator, Dr Olubunmi Otti, explained that the engagement focused on strengthening compliance with consumer protection, product safety, quality and labelling requirements across the sector.

Bello emphasised that bread and other baked products were consumed daily by millions of Nigerians, “making food safety and consumer confidence critical responsibilities for operators.”

“Consumers ordinarily had no way of knowing where ingredients came from, how they were stored or the conditions under which products were manufactured. They rely on producers to maintain proper hygiene, use appropriate ingredients, accurately represent their products and supply the quantity promised,” Bello said.

Bello said effective consumer protection covered the entire production chain, including the sourcing and quality of ingredients, production, hygiene, handling, packaging, labelling, storage, transportation and display.

He said it also covered the information businesses provided to consumers, the quantity promised and supplied, as well as the actions taken when something went wrong.

According to him, food safety cannot be compromised in the pursuit of profit.

He stressed that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 gives consumers the right to goods that are reasonably suitable for their intended purposes, such as good quality, free of defects and compliant with applicable standards set by sector regulators.

Bello, however, acknowledged that businesses were operating in an economic environment where the costs of flour, sugar, energy, transportation, packaging, equipment and financing could fluctuate and place pressure on profit margins.

He noted that such commercial realities could not justify practices that endangered consumers.

The FCCPC boss warned that operators must not respond to rising input costs by resorting to unsafe substitutes, harmful or prohibited additives, poor-quality ingredients, compromised hygiene, manipulated expiry information or other shortcuts that transfer commercial risks to consumers.

He also cautioned operators against misleading consumers through product labels, advertisements and other forms of marketing.

Bello explained that information supplied to consumers on products, packaging, accompanying materials, at points of sale, social media or conventional media must be accurate and not misleading.

He added that information on production dates, shelf life, allergens, storage conditions and other material characteristics required under applicable laws, regulations or standards must be provided and must not mislead consumers.

Bello pointed out that the FCCPA prohibits false or incorrect representations, materially misleading representations that were erroneous, fraudulent or deceptive in the promotion or marketing of goods and services.

On traceability, the Commission’s chief cited Section 134 of the Act, which requires manufacturers, importers and distributors to label or describe goods in a manner that makes them easily traceable to the manufacturer, importer or distributor.

Earlier, the Head of the Quality Assurance and Development Department of the FCCPC Southwest Zonal Office in Lagos, Akinwumi Isola, said the commission firmly believes that effective regulation is achieved through continuous dialogue, stakeholder education, transparency and mutual respect.

He said while enforcement remains an important regulatory tool, voluntary compliance supported by industry commitment will always produce the most sustainable outcomes.

Isola urged operators to place consumer safety above short-term commercial interests, invest in effective quality management systems, strengthen food safety culture within organisations, ensure continuous staff training and capacity development, and maintain accurate production records and effective traceability systems.

He further urged operators to respond promptly to consumer complaints, cooperate fully with regulatory inspections and surveillance activities, promptly report and recall products where safety concerns arise, as well as build compliance into everyday business operations rather than viewing it as an exercise undertaken only during inspections.