Metrology and Organization Functions Quiz

Pharmacy Laws and Ethics (SAP 401)

• Course code: SAP 401
• Course name: Pharmacy Laws and Ethics
• Units: 2

Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON)

• Established by SON Act No. 56 of 1971
• Responsible for National Policy on Metrology, Standards, Testing, and Quality Control (MSTQ)
• Maintains standards and regulates product quality in Nigeria
• Acts as custodian of product, process, and metrology standards
• Governed by a Standards Council, but day-to-day operations are managed by the Director-General/Chief Executive
• Member of: International Organization for Standardization (ISO), African Regional Organization for Standardization (ARSO), Codex Alimentarius Commission, World Standards Services Network (WSSN), International Electro-technical Commission (IEC), Southern African Development Cooperation in Measurement Traceability and Legal Metrology (SADCMET and SADCMEL)
• Also participates in programs and activities of international bodies and UN agencies (UNIDO and UNICEF)

Aims and Objectives

• Prepare standards for products, measurements, materials, processes, and services
• Promote standards at national, regional, and international levels
• Certify products
• Assist in producing quality goods and services
• Improve measurement accuracy and disseminate standard-related information

Standards Council of Nigeria (SCN)

• SON's governing body.
• Consists of:
  • A chairman
  • Representatives from Ministries(agriculture & rural development; defence; trade & investment; finance; works; Health; science & technology)
  • Representatives from various fields of activity (university education & research; chambers of commerce, industry & mines; engineering & engineering consultancy; services; processing & manufacturing; construction industry; employers' association; and consumers' association)
  • One person not employed in the public service and of unquestionable integrity.

Tenure and Removal of Members

• Members serve 4-year terms, maximum of 2 terms.
• President can remove a member if deemed not in national/organizational interest.
• Members cease to hold office if they become unsound of mind, bankrupt, convicted of felony, guilty of serious misconduct, or professionally disqualified.
• Members can resign by written notification.

Functions of the Council

• Advise the federal government on national policy on standards
• Designate, establish, and approve standards in metrology, materials, commodities, structures, and processes for product certification
• Provide measures for quality control of raw materials and products
• Set overall organizational policy, particularly financial, operational, and administrative programs
• Carry out other functions as outlined in relevant acts

Functions and Duties of the Organization

• Organize tests and ensure compliance with designated and approved standards
• Investigate quality of facilities, systems, services, materials, and products (imported and manufactured)
• Evaluate quality assurance activities
• Establish reference standards for calibration and verification of measuring instruments
• Compile inventory of products requiring standardization

Other Information

• SON maintains a library of books, publications, and other relevant standard materials.
• Fees are charged for services like comparisons, tests, and investigations.
• SON is structured into directorates, departments, and units.
  • Includes directorates for: standards, quality assurance, laboratory, metrology, technical services, human resources, finance and supplies, legal
• Staff includes Director-General, chief executive, and accounting officer.

Staff of the Organization

• Director-General (appointed by the president)
  • Chief executive and accounting officer
• Holds office for 4 years (maximum 2 terms)
• Responsibilities include: Advising the council, coordinating activities of directors, initiating investigations, representing the organization nationally and internationally, enforcing the standards, and discharging the organization's duties.

Directors (appointed by Council)

• Number determined by the council
• Duties determined by the DG
• Other staff as needed to assist the Director-General

Financial Provision, Nigerian Industrial Standards , and Evasion of Fees

• Read-up topics related to financial resources, industrial standards, and compliance with fees and levies

Power to Enter Premises

• The DG or any authorized officer has the power to stop and search vehicles or premises suspected of contravening the Act.
• They can enter premises, use necessary force, seize and detain items, and investigate undertakings for specified time (up to 90 days).
• The officer can also demand information from organizations.

Offences

• Failure to submit required returns as per the Act is an offense.
• Providing false statements in returns constitutes an offense.
• Willfully obstructing, interfering, assaulting or resisting a SON officer is an offense.
• Aiding, inviting, inducing or abetting others is an offense.
• Offenses committed by a corporate body and attributable to negligence by officers are also punishable.

WHO/FAO CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

• An intergovernmental body focused on food standards.
• Formed in 1963.
• Open to all member nations and associate members of FAO and/or WHO.
• Currently has 189 members.
• Headquartered in Rome.
• Established in 1963 (current membership of 189 members).
• Nigeria joined in 1969

Codex Alimentarius

• A collection of internationally adopted food standards and related texts, presented uniformly.
• Latin for "food law or code"

Purpose of the Codex Alimentarius

• Protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in food trade.
• Guide and promote the elaboration and establishment of definitions and requirements for foods to facilitate international trade.

Scope of the Codex Alimentarius

• Standards for all processed, semi-processed, or raw foods distributed to consumers
• Food production materials and processing standards
• Food hygiene provisions, including food additives, pesticide residues, veterinary drugs, contaminants, labeling, and presentation.

Nature of Codex Standards

• Codex standards are not a substitute for or alternative to national legislation
• Every country must comply with their own food laws and standards.
• Codex standards aim for a safe, wholesome, correctly labeled, and unadulterated food product, facilitating international food trade

Revision of Codex Standards

• The CAC and its subsidiary bodies continuously revise standards to align with current scientific knowledge.
• Revised or removed based on the procedures for the elaboration of Codex standards and related texts.
• New scientific data presented to appropriate committees warrants revisions

Definitions

• Codex Alimentarius' definitions for various purposes, found on pages 23-26

Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards

• New standards based on the Project Document and the Executive Committee recommendations
• Codex Secretariat prepares a proposal for a draft standard, distributing it to relevant bodies for assessment
• Circulated to Codex members and observers for comment
• Received comments are sent to assigned bodies for review and consideration.
• The draft is then amended and resubmitted to the executive and main committees before adoption by the Commission.
• Standard is published on Codex website

Scientific Risk Assessment Bodies

• Provide advice on maximum limits for food additives, pesticide residues, pathogens, and other scientific issues related to food safety

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

• Principles, structure, membership, place, and date, established, open to all member nations.

Objectives

• Protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in food trade.
• Coordinate international food standards work.
• Set priorities for and guide development of draft standards.
• Finalize and publish Codex standards.
• Amend existing published standards.

Officers of the Commission

• Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons, Secretary, and other officers appointed by the FAO and WHO Directors-General.

Coordinators

• Appointed by the Commission from among its members, based on geographic location or group of countries
• Responsible for coordinating tasks concerning the work of Codex Committees

Executive Committee

• Comprises the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons, Coordinators, and 7 other members from specific regions
• Responsible for: Making proposals to the Commission regarding general orientation and work; studying problems; helping manage the Commission's program; considering specific matters; estimating expenditures; establishing sub-committees as needed

Sessions of the Commission

• The Commission holds one principle session annually at the headquarters of FAO or WHO (or elsewhere when deemed necessary).
• Dates and locations determined after consultation with relevant authorities.
• Notice of date and location communicated to all members at least two months in advance.

Meeting Procedures

• Commission meetings are held publicly unless otherwise decided.
• A majority of Members constitutes a quorum.
• For some matters, a specific quorum (minimum number) need to be met.
• Quorum in specific cases involving regional concerns is more specific (at least one-third of Members belonging to region).

Codex Committees

• Various committees focusing on contaminant standards, additives, hygiene, food labeling, and others related to special dietary needs.

Commodity Committees

• Various active and adjourned committees specializing in food products such as cereals, pulses, fats, fruits, vegetables, sugars, spices, cocoa, fish, meat, milk, and natural waters.

Ad-hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces

• Various active and dissolved task forces for topics such as antimicrobial resistance, animal feeding, foods, derived from biotechnology, fruit juices, and quick-frozen food processing.

Additional Readings

• Format for Codex Commodity Standards (page 55)
• Functions of other Codex Committees (page 206)