The House of Representatives Committee on the National Agency on Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has mandated the suspension of the prohibition on the sale of spirits and alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles.
This suspension will remain in effect until the committee concludes its investigation into the matter. Chairing the committee, Representative Regina Akume made this announcement in Abuja following a public hearing on the product ban held on Friday.
Akume emphasized the necessity of following proper procedures before enforcing such bans and highlighted the importance of implementing access control measures to prevent minors and young adults from accessing alcoholic contents in sachets and pet bottles.
She underscored the committee’s responsibility in ensuring NAFDAC’s effectiveness for job creation and economic growth. Akume pledged to facilitate a fair and balanced relationship between NAFDAC and manufacturers that safeguards children and public safety.
Prior to Akume’s statement, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, reiterated that the ban was enacted to safeguard the health and well-being of children, youths, and other vulnerable demographics.
“We tried to protect the market, and that was why we agreed to a five-year moratorium for the manufacturers to phase out alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles in December 2018.
According to her, it is a ministerial directive and not unilaterally made by NAFDAC, and the expiration of those five years has come.
Adeyeye said that, despite the agreement on the ban on alcohol in sachets and pet bottles, it was shocking to NAFDAC that the campaign from manufacturers was mounting.
She said that a lot of issues could have been solved before now, adding that the agency was not against the production of alcoholic drinks but alcohol in sachets and pet bottles, to wade off children from unnecessary access.
