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The short answer
Prepacked Nigerian food sold in Ireland must carry the information set by EU Regulation 1169/2011: name, ingredients with the 14 allergens emphasised, net quantity, date mark, storage conditions, the responsible business's name and address, and a nutrition declaration. The operator under whose name the food is marketed is responsible, and shops must not knowingly sell non-compliant packs. Loose food needs written allergen information.
Packs of garri, palm oil, ogbono, chin chin and plantain chips often arrive in Ireland with labels written for the Nigerian market: a NAFDAC number, a brand name and little else. On an Irish shelf that is not enough. Prepacked food sold in Ireland must carry the information set out in EU Regulation 1169/2011, and the shop selling it has duties too. This guide explains what the label must show and who is responsible for getting it right.
What every prepacked label must show
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland's page on food information to consumers lists the mandatory particulars under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011:
- the name of the food;
- the list of ingredients;
- any allergenic ingredients or processing aids;
- the quantity of certain ingredients or categories of ingredient, where required;
- the net quantity;
- the minimum durability ('best before') or 'use by' date;
- any special storage conditions or conditions of use;
- the name or business name and address of the food business operator;
- the country of origin or place of provenance, where leaving it out could mislead;
- instructions for use, where they are needed;
- the actual alcoholic strength for drinks over 1.2% ABV;
- a nutrition declaration.
FSAI adds that the name of the food, the net quantity and, for drinks, the alcoholic strength must appear in the same field of vision. The minimum x-height of the text is 1.2 mm, with a smaller minimum for packs whose largest surface is under 80 cm².
Allergens: the part that causes most problems
The regulation lists 14 allergens. FSAI sets them out as cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide and sulphites above 10 mg per kg or litre, lupin and molluscs. Each must be named in the ingredients list and emphasised so it stands out, for example in bold.
| Nigerian product | Allergens to look for (examples) |
|---|---|
| Chin chin, puff-puff mix, meat-pie pastry | Wheat (gluten), milk, eggs |
| Groundnut snacks, kuli-kuli | Peanuts |
| Crayfish powder, seasoning cubes with shrimp | Crustaceans |
| Dried fish, fish powder | Fish |
| Soya-based snacks, some seasonings | Soybeans |
| Benne seed snacks | Sesame |
| Dried fruit treated with preservative | Sulphites, if above 10 mg/kg |
These pairings are examples to prompt a check of the actual recipe; the ingredients of each product decide.
Who is responsible
FSAI's page says the food business operator under whose name the food is marketed is responsible for the information, and that retailers must not knowingly sell food that does not comply. If you import under your own brand or relabel, that operator is you. If you buy from an Irish wholesaler, check it has done the work; as the shop you still cannot knowingly sell a non-compliant pack.
In practice, many importers of Nigerian goods apply an over-sticker in English with the full mandatory information, the ingredients with allergens emphasised, the nutrition table, and the Irish importer's name and address.
Nutrition declaration
FSAI says the nutrition declaration has been mandatory on prepacked foods since 13 December 2016, subject to exemptions. Many Nigerian-market packs do not carry one in the EU format. Without the recipe and an analysis, you cannot invent the figures; ask the manufacturer for its nutrition data or have the product analysed.
Date marks and storage
Regulation 1169/2011 uses two kinds of date. A 'best before' date is about quality: the food is at its best until then. A 'use by' date is about safety and is used for foods that spoil quickly. Most dry Nigerian staples such as garri, beans, rice and spices carry a best-before date. Smoked fish and fresh pepper pastes may need closer thought. Nigerian packs sometimes print the date in a format Irish customers misread, such as manufacturing date only. Make sure the date on the over-sticker is the durability date, and add any storage instruction the product needs, such as 'keep refrigerated after opening'.
Loose and non-prepacked food
If you sell food loose, by weight from a sack or as hot food from a counter, the allergen rule still applies. FSAI says that under S.I. No. 489 of 2014 allergen information for non-prepacked food must be given in writing. A shelf card or a folder at the till listing the allergens in each loose item is the usual way.
What to check on each new product
- Is all the mandatory information present, in a form an Irish customer can read?
- Are the allergens named and emphasised in the ingredients list?
- Is there a nutrition declaration, or a valid exemption?
- Is the date mark clear and in a format customers understand?
- Is the name and address of the responsible operator on the pack?
- Is your shop registered as a food business? See registering an African shop.
Importing the goods in the first place has its own rules; see importing Nigerian foodstuff into Ireland and, for fish, importing smoked fish for sale.
Where Pryme fits
Labelling is your job and FSAI's to enforce. Where Pryme helps is the money side of an import business: a Pryme Business Account can pay Nigerian manufacturers in naira or dollars from euros, with the rate and fee shown before you approve, and the Compliance agent can keep a checklist of supplier documents for a person to review. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's services are provided through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
Is a NAFDAC number enough on a label in Ireland?
No. Prepacked food sold in Ireland must show the information required by EU Regulation 1169/2011, including ingredients, allergens and a nutrition declaration.
Which allergens must be shown on food sold in Ireland?
The 14 listed by the regulation, including gluten cereals, crustaceans, fish, peanuts, milk, eggs, soy and sesame. They must be emphasised in the ingredients.
Who is responsible if a Nigerian product is wrongly labelled?
FSAI says the operator under whose name the food is marketed; retailers must not knowingly sell non-compliant food.
Do I need allergen information for loose food in my shop?
Yes. Under S.I. No. 489 of 2014, it must be given in writing.
Sources
- Food Safety Authority of Ireland: Food information to consumers (undated, 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Food Safety Authority of Ireland: Starting a food business (undated, 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.