The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians following the Republic of Niger’s decision to ban the importation of Bulmex Parboiled Rice from India over concerns of metallic contamination.
In a statement on Thursday, NAFDAC said it received notification that Niger’s Ministry of Trade and Industry prohibited the product after an investigation by the Agadez Regional Directorate of Commerce and Industry reportedly found iron debris in the rice, rendering it unsafe for consumption.
According to the agency, the authorities in Niger have banned the importation and distribution of the affected rice as a precautionary measure.
NAFDAC noted that Bulmex is marketed as a brand of Indian parboiled rice and Pakistani long-grain rice. The suppliers identified in the notification include Karam Food Grains Private Limited, Paragon Commodities Limited, and Imoro Brunya/Sulemana Imoro Distribution Company.
The agency said the product is reportedly imported and sold in parts of Africa, including Nigeria and the Republic of Niger. However, it stressed that the presence of the affected rice in the Nigerian market has not yet been confirmed.
NAFDAC said the public alert was issued to strengthen market surveillance and prevent the possible circulation of the product through cross-border trade.
The agency urged consumers to report any suspected sale of substandard, falsified, or counterfeit regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office, call its toll-free line on 0800-162-3322.
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