The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced the enforcement of its ban on alcoholic beverages produced in sachets of less than 200ml effective from February 1, 2024
The agency hinged its latest action on the fact that the deadline set for manufacturers to cease production of the drinks in sachets and PET bottles, initially set for 2018, lapsed on January 31, 2024.
The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, clarified that the ban was not a sudden move but the result of a collaborative effort by a multilateral committee, which had a gradual reduction in production of such volume of alcoholic drinks by 50% by 2020 and the full ban on January 31, 2024.
She said: “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% with effect from 31st January 2022 while ensuring the product is completely phased out in the country by 31st January 2024”, the NAFDAC boss added.
According to her, the decision to eradicate the beverages in sachets was driven by concerns over their harmful effects, particularly on young children.
Adeyeye pointed out that because the drinks usually come in pocket-friendly sizes, accessible and affordable, children easily fell for the packages and had to face the consequences in the future.
She clarified: “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.”
Earlier, Assistant Chief Regulator Officer, Investigation and Enforcement Department, NAFDAC, Lagos, Mr Kazeem Adeniran, said that a two-day enforcement exercise was carried out on Monday in Ota, Ogun to sensitize the public about the ban on the harmful drinks
He maintained that all the products placed on hold in each of the companies visited would be evacuated, forfeited and destroyed.
Adeniran recalled that it was jointly agreed after the meeting in 2018 that the manufacturers should stop the production of such alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles by 2024 and embark on the production of alcohol above 200ml.
He pointed out the agency was not expecting to see these alcohol sachets and pet bottles in any Nigerian market for consumption any more.
