The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned the production of alcohol in sachet, small volume PET and glass bottles below 200 millilitres.
NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, noting that the development was part of the agency’s decisive move to curb abuse of alcohol in the country.
She said the decision was made following the recommendation of a high powered committee of the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and Industry in December 2018.
According to the NAFDAC boss, the agency will ensure that the validity of renewal of already registered alcoholic products in the affected category does not exceed the year 2024.
She explained that manufacturers of low volume alcohol beverages (200ml) with satisfactory laboratory reports already submitted to NAFDAC for registration before the decision, have been directed to reformulate their products to the stipulated standards without charges.
Adeyeye said, “Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria was also given a matching order to embark on intensive nationwide sensitization campaigns against underage consumption of alcohol by adolescents below the age of 18 years in the bid to stem the tide of alcohol abuse in the country.
“Producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume agreed to reduce production by 50 per cent with effect from January 31st, 2022 while ensuring the products are completely phased out in the country by 31st January 2024.”
