The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has initiated the enforcement of a ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, made this announcement during a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
Prof Adeyeye stated that as of January 31, 2024, no alcoholic beverage in these categories was registered by NAFDAC. The agency has started enforcement actions to ensure compliance with the new policy, and the window period given to manufacturers to sell off existing stock of these alcoholic drinks expired on January 31, 2024.
She revealed that during the enforcement actions, it was discovered that some manufacturers were still producing the banned products and had stocks of both finished products and packaging materials in their possession. NAFDAC views this as a serious violation of Nigerian laws and is prepared to use statutory means, including prosecution, to address the matter.
Prof Adeyeye urged 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 report to the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC for handover, preventing sterner measures, including prosecution.
The decision to ban alcoholic beverages in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles below 200ml was made in January 2022, following the recommendation of a high-powered committee involving the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and industry representatives.
Producers had agreed to reduce production by 5% from January 31, 2022, with a complete phase-out by January 31, 2024. NAFDAC is committed to ensuring that the renewal of already registered alcoholic products in the affected category does not exceed the year 2024.
Prof Adeyeye emphasized NAFDAC’s commitment to strict implementation to safeguard the health of Nigerians, especially vulnerable youth, from the dangers of reckless alcohol consumption. She highlighted the risks faced by under-aged individuals, commercial vehicle drivers, and riders due to the negative effects of consuming banned pack sizes of alcoholic beverages.
Citing the World Health Organization, Prof Adeyeye mentioned the numerous health and social problems associated with harmful alcohol consumption, including more than 200 health conditions and links to infectious and non-communicable diseases, as well as social issues such as alcohol addiction and gender-based violence. To address alcohol abuse, she emphasized the importance of regulating marketing and restricting the availability of alcoholic beverages, in line with WHO recommendations.
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