INTRODUCTION

In the early stages of the development of Nigeria, the volume of trade in consumer goods was relatively low and due to the low industrialization in the country, virtually all the consumer goods were imported from Europe, America and Asia.

Concern for quality and wholesomeness of such goods was not considered because it was assumed that the regulatory authorities of the countries of origin of such goods had taken care of their quality and safety. However, as the number and complexity of consumer goods increased, some degrees of local control were exercised through the Department of Government Chemist of the then Ministry of Health. By the end of the Nigerian civil war, however the problem of quality and safety of consumer goods had assumed a sufficiently serious dimension.

 In response to this situation, in 1970, the Federal Military Government established the Standard Organization of Nigeria for quality surveillance of all industrial products imported or locally manufactured. Also, in 1974, the Federal Government established the Food and Drug Administration as a directorate of the Federal Ministry of Health.  The main purpose of these establishments was to ensure that Nigeria did not become a dumping ground for unsafe and substandard goods, thereby avoiding adverse economic and health implications and that Nigerians are given food, drugs, medical devices cosmetics, water and chemicals that are of good and internationally acceptable quality. The Decree No 35, of 1974 which established the Food and Drug Administration made provisions for the control of the preparations of foods, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, water and chemicals under sanitary conditions, and for the prevention of the importation and sale of those certified unfit for human use.

For effective management of these provisions, both establishments needed suitable trained professionals to carry out analysis and advise on the quality and safety of regulated products. In compliance with the provisions of the Food and Drug Decree for the appointment of such experts, the Federal Ministry of Health appointed the first set of Food and Drug Analysts who incidentally became the foundation members of the Society of Public Analysts of Nigeria (SPAN) as it was then called.  

As its Extra-ordinary Emergency General meeting of 28^th of May 1988 in Lagos, the name Society of Public Analysts of Nigeria (SPAN) was changed to Institute of Pubic Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN). In this same meeting, a resolution mandating the executive council to obtain a charter was adopted. Less than five years later, a charter was obtained. President Ibrahim Babangida signed into law a Decree formally recognizing the Institute as a professional body. This Decree was titled Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria Decree No. 100 of 1992(now IPAN ACT CAP.I.16 LFN 2004).