The Laboratory Services (LS) Directorate is the arm of the Agency that investigates and pronounces on the quality, safety, efficacy and wholesomeness of regulated products both imported and locally manufactured.

Mandate

The CAFDA ACT CAP N1 LFN 2004 mandates the Laboratory to;

1. Conduct appropriate tests and ensure compliance with standard specifications designated and approved by the Council for the effective control of the quality of food, drugs and other regulated products and their production processes as well as their production processes in factories and other establishments;
2. Establish and maintain relevant laboratories in strategic areas of Nigeria as may be necessary for the performance of its functions;
3. Pronouncing the quality and safety of food, drugs and other regulated products after appropriate analysis.
4. Undertaking of laboratory work on the storage, adulteration, distribution and rational use of food, drug and other regulated products.
5. Analytical investigation into Enforcement/task force samples for sanctions and prosecutions
6. Develop analytical method for analyzing food, drugs and other regulated products and
7. Serve as reference Laboratory for other Governmental Agencies eg Nigeria Customs Service by analyzing samples for tariff classifications, NDLEA to identify narcotic drugs and Psychotropic substances, Nigeria Police Force for analysis of forensic samples.

Structure

To fulfill this mandate CAFDA established five (5) Laboratory services Directorates comprising seven (7) laboratories located across five geo-political zones in Nigeria as follows;

1. Laboratory Services -Drug
   1. Central Drug Control Laboratory, Yaba
   2. Maiduguri Area Laboratory, Borno State.
2. Laboratory Services Food and Chemical
   1. Central Laboratory Complex, Oshodi
   2. Calabar Area Laboratory, Cross River
3. Vaccine, Biologics and Medical Devices – Laboratory Services Drug, Yaba
4. Agulu Laboratory Services, Anambra
5. Kaduna Area Laboratory, Kaduna

Accreditations

All the Laboratories operate Quality Management Systems in line with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 17025:2017, WHOGPPQCL and WHO GBT requirements. One of the laboratories, Central Drug Control Laboratory has attained the WHO Prequalification. While, Five of the seven Laboratories have ISO 17025:2017 Accreditation in technical scopes. The Laboratories with ISO 17025:2017 Accreditation are: Central Drug Control Laboratory, Central Laboratory Complex, Vaccines, Biologics and Medical devices-Laboratory Services Drug, Agulu Laboratory Services and Kaduna Area Laboratory.