NAFDAC Food Labelling Requirements in Nigeria (2026)

A label is the first thing a wholesaler, supermarket buyer or inspector reads, so the NAFDAC labelling requirements in Nigeria matter as much as the recipe. A pack that is missing a batch number, a date or an allergen declaration can be refused by a buyer, held up in a warehouse, or pulled from shelves. This guide sets out what NAFDAC's labelling rules say for pre-packaged food, using the agency's own published texts as read in October 2026, and shows how to check your artwork before you print thousands of packs.

This is a practical summary, not legal advice. NAFDAC updates its regulations and guidelines, so confirm the current text with the agency before you finalise a design.

NAFDAC labelling requirements: which rules apply

NAFDAC's Pre-Packaged Food, Water and Ice Labelling Regulations apply to the labelling of all pre-packaged food, water and ice that is manufactured, imported, exported, sold, distributed or used in Nigeria. The copy published on NAFDAC's website is headed 2019. NAFDAC's 2026 registration guideline refers instead to the Pre-packaged Food (Labelling) Regulations of 2022. Because NAFDAC's pages do not make the relationship between the two clear, ask NAFDAC which text governs your product before you rely on a clause number.

The registration process also checks labels. The 2026 registration guideline says labels must be informative, accurate and in conformance with the labelling regulations, so label problems can surface during registration. Our guide to NAFDAC registration for food products explains where labels fit in that process.

NAFDAC food labelling requirements: what must appear on the pack

As read in the regulations published on NAFDAC's site, the main required particulars include:

Name of the food. A specific name that shows the true nature of the food, shown on the principal display panel. Words such as dried, smoked or reconstituted must be used where leaving them out could confuse the buyer.
Ingredients list. Headed "Ingredients", in descending order of weight at manufacture. Single-ingredient foods are exempt from the list.
Allergens. The regulations list the ones that must always be declared: cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt), crustacea, eggs, fish, peanuts or groundnuts, soybeans, milk (including lactose), tree nuts, and sulphites at 10 mg/kg or more.
Net content. In metric units, shown on the principal display panel.
Name and address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor, importer, exporter or vendor, plus the country of origin.
Date marking. The day, month and year of manufacture, plus a "Use By" or "Best Before" style date. Some foods are exempt from best-before dates, such as fresh unpeeled fruit and vegetables including tubers.
Storage conditions where they are needed.
Batch number. Required on all pre-packaged food.
NAFDAC registration number, shown as "NAFDAC Reg. No."
Language. Required declarations must be in English. Other languages may be added.
Nutrition information. Required for foods with more than one ingredient, with a minimum set that includes energy, carbohydrates (with sugars), protein, fat and sodium.

Presentation matters too. The regulations say required statements must be clear, prominent, legible and in a colour that contrasts with the background, and that the label must not separate from the container in ordinary use. They do not set a numeric minimum font size in the text we read.

What you may not put on the label

The same regulations prohibit several practices. Labels must not mislead about identity, quality, quantity, composition or origin. They must not suggest preventive, alleviative or curative effects. Advertising claims and professional endorsements need NAFDAC authorisation before they appear on a food label. And brand names must not give a wrong impression of the food. If you want to use phrases such as "no added sugar" or "gluten free", check the claim rules first and keep the supporting evidence.

Labelling for micro-scale producers

NAFDAC's micro-scale guideline page (shown as current as of 11 January 2024) sets out a shorter list for micro-scale enterprises: English labels with the ingredients, net weight, manufacturer address, batch number, production and best-before dates, storage conditions, and the NAFDAC registration number. If you are a small producer in Kano, Ibadan or Onitsha who sells through market stalls and retail shops, your label should still carry every item on that list.

Labels for products you export

Exporting adds another set of rules. NAFDAC's guideline on labelling requirements for semi-processed food products for export (reference FR&RA-GDL-008-00, effective 27 January 2025) says labels must be clear, legible and indelible. English or the importing country's preferred language may be used, and translations must be notarised by a Nigerian Notary Public. A product labelled only in the importing country's language must carry an "EXPORT ONLY" declaration and a signed sworn undertaking. Mandatory information includes the product name, ingredients in descending order of weight with allergens flagged, net quantity in metric units, country of origin, manufacturer and exporter details, batch number, manufacturing and expiry or best-before dates, storage conditions and nutrition information per 100 g or 100 ml. The guideline is on NAFDAC's website. Importing countries add their own rules on top, so read our guide to packaging, labelling and shelf life for agro exports as well.

Retailers and the competition regulator are watching labels

Labelling is also a consumer protection issue. On 19 August 2026 the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) published a notice on mandatory labelling of manufactured goods. It names missing production dates, expiry or best-before dates, batch numbers, manufacturer details, ingredient lists, allergen information and country of origin as gaps it has found, and it directs manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers to review their inventories and withdraw non-compliant goods. You can read the notice at fccpc.gov.ng. For a producer, the practical lesson is that supermarkets and distributors have reason to check your pack before they stock it. See our guide to selling food products to Nigerian supermarkets and distributors.

A pre-print label checklist

Compare your artwork line by line against NAFDAC's current text for your product type.
Check the ingredients order, the allergen declaration and the net content unit.
Confirm that the batch number and both dates will be printed or stamped on every pack, not left to a handwritten mark.
Make sure the NAFDAC registration number on the artwork matches your certificate exactly.
Remove any health or nutrition claim you cannot support.
Ask NAFDAC to confirm the artwork if you are unsure, and keep the approved version on file.

Frequently asked questions

Does my label need to be in English? According to the regulations published on NAFDAC's site, required declarations must be in English, and other languages may be added.

Do I have to show a batch number? Yes. The regulations say a batch number is required on all pre-packaged food.

Which allergens must I declare? The regulations name cereals containing gluten, crustacea, eggs, fish, peanuts or groundnuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts and sulphites at 10 mg/kg or more. Check NAFDAC for any update to this list.

Can I print a health benefit on my pack? The regulations prohibit claims that a food prevents, relieves or cures a condition, and advertising claims need NAFDAC authorisation. Get advice from NAFDAC before you add any claim.

Can Comilmart check my label? No. Label compliance is a matter between you and NAFDAC. Buyers on a marketplace will still look at your pack photos, so use clear images that match your registered label.

Next step

Once your label meets the rules, show it to buyers. Apply as a supplier at /apply-manufacturer: you will need your company registration number, tax number, business licence and registration certificate uploads, at least two sample product images and your company profile, and you choose the B2B category that fits your products. The application is free, and review is stated on the form as taking about 24 to 48 hours. Getting your NAFDAC labelling requirements right before you list means the photos buyers see match what they will receive.