Legal and Regulatory Frameworks Governing Science Laboratory Practice: A Global and Nigerian Perspective

Science laboratories are central to research, healthcare, industrial innovation, and education. Their operations must adhere to robust legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure safety, environmental protection, ethical compliance, and data integrity. This paper presents a narrative review of the global and Nigerian legal and regulatory environments governing science laboratory practice. It examines international standards such as those developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), World Health Organization (WHO), and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), alongside Nigerian regulatory agencies including the National Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON). The review finds that while a relatively comprehensive regulatory architecture exists in Nigeria, persistent challenges—including inadequate infrastructure, poor enforcement, limited awareness, and corruption—undermine effective compliance. The paper underscores these challenges and proposes policy recommendations to bridge regulatory gaps and foster improved laboratory governance in Nigeria.