In the first quarter of 2025, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) undertook significant regulatory and policy measures to enhance food fortification standards and frameworks towards combating malnutrition.

Strengthening National Commitment Through Regulatory Collaboration

As an active member of the National Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCFN), SON played a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s food fortification agenda. Key achievements include:

  • Revision of Terms of Reference (ToR): SON contributed to the adoption of revised ToR aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s food fortification program.
  • Launch of LSFF Innovation Fund: In collaboration with other regulatory agencies and partners, SON participated in the launch of a $500,000 Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) Innovation Fund to support innovative projects enhancing fortification compliance and tackling micronutrient deficiencies.
  • Development of Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) Standards: SON led a working group comprising stakeholders from various sectors to develop standards for Fortified Rice Kernel, promoting the adoption of rice fortification as a practical means to address malnutrition.
  • National Codex Committee (NCC) Engagement: SON successfully hosted the first quarter NCC preparatory meeting in Lagos, contributing to Nigeria’s positions for the 25th session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA 25) held in Kampala, Uganda.

 

Innovative Interventions Supporting Nutrition

SON implemented targeted interventions to ensure the quality and safety of fortified foods:

  1. Monitoring of Fortified Foods at Factory Level: SON established Food and Nutrition units across all state offices to enhance the coordination and implementation of nutrition activities, ensuring compliance with fortification standards.
  2. Development of FRK Standards: The creation of standards for Fortified Rice Kernel provided a structured approach to rice fortification, offering a practical solution to combat malnutrition.
  3. International Collaboration: SON hosted delegations from the China–Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Council and Ethiopia, facilitating experience sharing on food fortification and enhancing trade cooperation.

Nutrition Financing: Addressing Budgetary Constraints

As a newly established division, SON’s Food and Nutrition has no budget line yet for nutrition.

Forthcoming Events: Enhancing Nutrition Standards and Compliance

SON has outlined several key activities for the upcoming quarters:

  • Monitoring of fortified foods at factory level in all SON States offices.
  • National Codex Committee Meetings: Hosting the second quarter NCC meeting to prepare for international Codex sessions.
  • Preparatory Meetings for International Codex Committees:
    • 44th Session of Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Budapest, Hungary, May 5–9, 2025).
    • 56th Session of Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (China, May 19–24, 2025).
    • 34th Session of Codex Committee on General Principles (Lille, France, June 2–6, 2025).
    • 18th Session of Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (Bangkok, Thailand, June 23–27, 2025).

 

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria remains committed to enhancing food fortification and nutrition standards. To achieve these goals, SON recommends:

  • Verification of Fortification Claims: Monitoring and substantiating claims made by manufacturers on product labels to prevent misinformation and protect consumers.
  • Capacity Building: Investing in training and resources for SON personnel to effectively implement and monitor nutrition standards.