Full List: NAFDAC Imposes Ban on Alcoholic Drinks in Sachets, Small Bottles
- The federal government of Nigeria has banned the sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets containing less than 200ml
- According to NAFDAC, the move followed an agreement between a multilateral committee
- The regulatory agency said minors, drivers and passengers of commercial vehicles are affected mainly by product consumption
Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has over three years of experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.
Alcoholic drinks made in sachets of less than 200ml are prohibited by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Source: UGC
In a statement released on Monday, February 5, the agency announced that the ban became effective as of February 1, 2024.
According to the agency, the manufacturers of the items were given a five-year window starting in 2018 to cease producing the drinks in sachets and pet bottles. It explained that the window ended on January 31, 2024.
PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!
Five-year window elapsed
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of NAFDAC, explained that the production ban was not a sudden development.
She highlighted that the ban resulted from a decision made by a multilateral committee.
The committee opted for a phased implementation, with a 50% reduction in production by 2020 and a complete ban scheduled for January 31, 2024.
As reported by The Nation, the DG stated that NAFDAC did not grant any product manufacturer renewal licenses past January 2024.
She said that the agency removed the drinks from such packets because of the harmful impacts on minors.
Kids mostly affected
Buttressing the ban on alcoholic drinks in sachets, Adeyeye asserted that due to their ready availability, affordability, and pocket-friendly packaging, children were easily enticed, only to face the consequences later.
The NAFDAC DG stated that the majority of individuals vulnerable to the harmful effects of consuming alcoholic beverages in prohibited pack sizes are minors, as well as drivers and passengers of commercial vehicles.
She said:
“This decision was based on the recommendation of a high-powered committee of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC on the 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 per cent with effect from 31st January 2022 while ensuring the product is completely phased out in the country by 31st January 2024”.
Adeyeye also said the World Health Organization had previously disclosed that youngsters who consume alcohol face an increased risk of using drugs, receiving poor grades, getting injured or killed, engaging in risky sexual behavior, making poor judgments, and experiencing health issues.
She added:
“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."
She claimed that although the prohibition was being enforced, it was found that specific factories were continuing to produce the prohibited products and that they still possessed stacks of finished goods and their packing materials.
She stated that the situation was unacceptable and that the agency NAFDAC considered the situation as a blatant disregard for Nigerian law.
“NAFDAC views this matter seriously and will engage all statutory means, which may include prosecution, to deal with the matter”.
Full list of drinks affected
Alcohols in the following categories are affected
- Alcohol in sachets
- PET and Glass bottles
- empty sachets
- PET bottles
- Empty Glass bottles
- Other packaging materials of these banned products
NAFDAC raises alarm over killer cough medicine
Legit.ng earlier reported that NAFDAC warned Nigerians about a killer cough syrup known as NATURCOLD in Nigeria.
Speaking on April 26, 2023, the NAFDAC DG stated that the medicines had already claimed the lives of six children in Cameroon.
The NAFDAC DG said the cough syrup was not in the agency's database and asked importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to be cautious and vigilant in the supply chain.
In December 2023, the agency also intercepted fake wines, soft drinks, and consumables in Aba
PAY ATTENTION: Stay Informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Legit.ng
