NAFDAC Bans Alcoholic Beverages In Small Sachets

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has prohibited the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets of less than 200ml. Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of NAFDAC, told reporters that the five-year window granted to product producers to stop producing the drinks in sachets and pet bottles, which began in 2028, expired on January 31, 2024. She stated that the prohibition would be enforced beginning on February 1, 2024.

According to her, the agency decided to prohibit the production of drinks in such packets due to the harmful impact on underage youths. She claimed that because the beverages are in pocket-sized, accessible, and affordable containers, children readily fall for them, only to suffer the repercussions later.

“This decision was based on the recommendation of a high-powered committee of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC on one hand, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the Industry represented by the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), in December 2018.

“As a commitment to the decision reached at the end of this Committee meeting, producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume agreed to reduce the production by 5 percent with effect from 31st January 2022 while ensuring the product is completely phased out in the country by 31st January 2024”.

She believes that in enforcing the policy, the country’s future takes precedence over other reasons. Adeyeye emphasised the importance of preserving Nigerian children and maintaining the health of society as a whole.

Read Also: NAFDAC Reduces Processing Fees For Locally Made Goods

“The people who are mostly at risk of the negative effect of consumption of the banned pack sizes of alcoholic beverages are the under-aged and commercial vehicle drivers and riders. The World Health Organization has established that children who drink alcohol are more likely to: use drugs, get bad grades, suffer injury or death, engage in risky sexual activity, make bad decisions and have health problems.

“The World Health Organization also stated that harmful consumption of alcohol is linked to more than 200 health conditions including infectious diseases (tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS) and non-communicable conditions (liver cirrhosis and different types of cancer). It is also associated with social problems such as alcohol addiction and gender-based violence.

“To curb the menace of abuse of alcohol, the World Health Organization recommended some actions and strategies to Policy-Makers that have shown to be effective and cost-effective, which include: regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages (in particular to younger people) and regulating and restricting the availability of alcohol.”

She stated that when implementing the prohibition, it was revealed that certain factories were still producing the illegal products and had stacks of finished products as well as packaging supplies in their possession.

“This situation is of course not acceptable, and the Agency views this as flagrant disobedience to the laws of Nigeria. NAFDAC views this matter seriously and will engage all statutory means, which may include prosecution, to deal with the matter”.

She cautioned that there would be no going back on the decision.

“I want to use this medium to ask all holders of alcohol in sachets, PET and Glass bottles, empty sachets, PET bottles, empty Glass bottles, and other packaging materials of these banned products to immediately report to the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC for hand-over of same to NAFDAC for destruction, to prevent sterner measures including prosecution.

“NAFDAC is resolutely committed to the strict implementation of the regulations and regulatory measures towards safeguarding the health of Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable youth, against the dangers of reckless consumption of alcohol.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli