Manufacturers Defy FG’s Ban On Pocket-Size Sachet Alcoholic Drinks As Production Continue

Manufacturers of pocket-size sachet alcoholic drinks have defied the Federal Government’s ban on the outlawed products and have continued production despite the January 31, 2024 deadline.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) uncovered this when the agency began enforcement of the ban on the importation, manufacture, and sale of the products.

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed on Monday.

The enforcement by NAFDAC is coming based on the recommendation of a high-powered committee of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and the industry represented by the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers, Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, in December 2018.

The ban on the products was aimed at protecting children who buy the product based on their size and affordability.

Adeyeye said, “As of January 31, 2024, there is no alcoholic beverage in these categories that are registered by NAFDAC. I also want to inform you that the agency has started enforcement actions to enforce the implementation of this policy. The window period given to manufacturers by NAFDAC to sell off all alcoholic drinks in this category elapsed on January 31, 2024.

“To this end on the first day, after the elapse of the window period, the agency commenced nationwide enforcement actions on February 1, 2024 to enforce the implementation of the new policy.”

The producers of sachet alcohol agreed to reduce the production by 5 per cent with effect from January 31, 2022.

They also agreed to completely phase out the product in the country by January 31, 2024.

However, the NAFDAC boss revealed that during the enforcement, NAFDAC found that manufacturers of the banned products were still producing the products.

She said, “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.

“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 committed to ensuring that the validity of renewal of already registered alcoholic products in the affected category does not exceed the year 2024.”

The DG said 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.