The House of Representatives has stepped down a bill seeking to prohibit the production, importation, distribution and sale of unbranded and unfortified edible oils across Nigeria.
The decision came after lawmakers debated the bill during its second reading.
Several members argued that introducing a new law might be unnecessary since existing regulatory agencies already have the responsibility of monitoring and enforcing food quality and safety standards.
Speaking during the debate, the sponsor of the bill, Chike Okafor, explained that the proposed legislation was designed to protect Nigerians from the health dangers linked to the consumption of unbranded and unfortified edible oils.
However, concerns raised by lawmakers over the roles of current regulatory bodies led to the bill being stepped down for the time being.
He said the bill would strengthen food fortification, improve local oil production through collaboration with research institutions, and prescribe penalties for offenders.
However, several lawmakers argued that NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) already have the legal powers to regulate edible oils, while others warned that the bill could negatively affect small-scale local palm oil producers.
Following the debate, the House stepped down the bill for further legislative consideration.
