The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday said it has begun a biometric capturing of the producers of regulated products, including packaged water, to have a reliable data base for regulation.

The agency said it has over 8,679 registered water producing factories, most of which have not registered.  

NAFDAC's Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii, spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at a workshop organised for water producers in the North Central zone.

He noted that the workshop would ensure a re-certification of packaged water factories, irrespective of their registration status, to overcome many problems.

Orhii said the workshop was for good manufacturing practices, in line with contemporary global best practices in packaged water production.  

He said the agency is organising nation-wide training to enable packaged water producers to understand modern technology for making quality water for consumption.

The NAFDAC chief warned water producers against malpractice, saying the agency would sanction those found producing low quality water for drink.

Orhii added that NAFDAC has discovered unwholesome practices during its inspection tour of sachet water factories.  

The practices, he said, included improper use of water treatment chemical, such as chlorine and domestic water filters.

He urged the producers to avoid using high density polyethylene bags as primary packaging materials or inappropriate labelling of their products.

According to him, the agency will ensure the quality of packaged water through inspection, laboratory analyses and registration of the products. 

Orhii, who was represented by the Deputy Director, North Central zone, Mr Norbert Madueke, noted that drinking contaminated water could cause diarrhea, cholera, typhoid and in even death.

"Drinking water must meet the minimum Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS) for potable water," he said.