Tag: NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that the ban on production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles below 200mls was a collective decision.

The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known in a statement she signed on Thursday in Abuja.

She emphasised that the ban was a collective recommendation of a committee, and listed representatives in the committee as: Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Other representatives are: Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN).

She explained that the recommendation to ban these categories of alcohol was not hasty, as it had been a five year phase out plan.

She stated that “it is also important to clarify that the implementation of the ban on alcohol in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles was not hasty.

“It is in line with the five-year phase-out plan of the affected presentations of alcoholic beverages which started in January 2019 and ended on Jan. 31, 2024.

“The five-year period granted to the industry stakeholders was a practical, reasonable and sufficient time for full compliance with the phase out of the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles below 200mls.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is important to emphasise that the ban only affects alcoholic beverages in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles below 200mls.

“Other presentations of alcoholic beverages are not affected by the ban, and therefore are still permitted for manufacture, importation, distribution, sale and use in Nigeria.”

Adeyeye said NAFDAC remained fully alive to her responsibilities and committed to putting the health of Nigerians in the forefront of regulatory actions, as the population’s health was the wealth of the nation.

Read Also: NAFDAC seals three factories, seizes banned N6m products in Jos

She added that the primary focus of the ban was as a result of its accessibility, affordable, and portable presentation of high content alcohol in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles below 200mls.

She explained that the ban is in the interest of the health of the under-aged, vulnerable children and the larger society beyond the negative health consequences.

According to her, the ban is also to curb increasing vices attributable to harmful use of alcohol.

She, therefore, called for continued support, cooperation and collaboration of Nigerians in the task of safeguarding the health of the nation.

(NAN)

• Agency begins law enforcement in Sokoto, Osun, Lagos, others

• TUC protests shutdowns, decries effect on workers

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday began the enforcement of its ban of alcoholic beverages packaged in small sachets across the country.

The agency carried out the enforcement in different parts of the country and arrested violators of its laws.

In Jos, the Plateau State capital, it sealed three alcoholic beverage producing factories for not complying with good manufacturing practices and operating without its certification.

NAFDAC’s Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, Federal Task Force Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Mr. Umar Suleiman, announced this when he led a team on the raid in Jos.

Suleiman said one of the factories was also sealed for producing banned alcoholic beverages, adding that it also produced other products without the agency’s registration.

NAFDAC officials also sealed a bakery in Sokoto over repackaging of other products and operating in poor sanitary environment.

The agency’s State Coordinator Garba Adamu said the unregistered bakery was shut with the assistance of security men.

Adamu said the owner of the bakery had been arrested and sanctioned accordingly, adding that the materials he used were also confiscated.

He said the owner had also been educated and guided on how to register his products according to stipulated guidelines.

Read Also: Rising inflation threat to Nigerians – Northern Elders

NAFDAC officials were also at some factories where alcoholic beverages were being produced in banned sachets, pets and glass bottles of 100ml and below in Osogbo, Ilesa, and Ile-Ife, all in Osun State.

Speaking during the enforcement operation, the Assistant Director of NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement Directorate for Lagos, Mr. Dare Moses, said the licences for production of sachet alcoholic drinks of 100ml and below had expired since January 31.

Moses said the ban had become necessary due to the abuse of the alcoholic drinks by Nigerians, especially the youth.

He said due to their low quantity and affordability, many young Nigerians were abusing them, which was affecting their mental health.

Also, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) held a peaceful protest against NAFDAC’s directive to shut down companies manufacturing alcoholic sachet drinks.

The protest took place in front of NAFDAC’s office at Plot 1, Industrial Estate, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Isolo, Lagos State.

TUC Vice President Emmanuel Idogen said a lot of people had been rendered jobless, following the shutdown of some factories by the regulatory agency.

The union leader noted that though he was not against NAFDAC carrying out its duty, shutting down the livelihood of thousands of people at a time of economic hardship was inhumane.

“We all know the economic hardship we are facing in the country presently. The price of fuel has increased, the prices of food are increasing on a daily basis and there is inflation.

“Some of the people earn their living to feed their families and dependents from the factory that you have shut down.

“Invariably, there will be more families exposed to hunger. I believe this will have a negative impact on the society.

“We are appealing to NAFDAC to suspend the directive to shut down the production of alcoholic sachets drinks for the posterity of the masses,” he said.

Officials of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Tuesday, began enforcement of ban on sachets of alcoholic drinks in Osun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NAFDAC officials visited some of the factories where the alcoholic beverages were being produced in sachets, pets and glass bottles of 100ml and below in Osogbo, Ilesa and Ile-Ife.

Speaking during the enforcement operation, Mr Dare Moses, Assistant Director, NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Lagos, said that the licences for production of sachet alcoholic drink of 100ml and below had expired since Jan. 31.

Moses said that the ban had become necessary due to the abuse of the alcoholic drink by Nigerians, especially the youth.

He said due to its low quantity and affordability, many young Nigerians were in the habit of abusing it, which was affecting their mental health.

“This enforcement is a nationwide thing and that is why we are here in Osun to sensitise the companies producing this sachet alcoholic bitter.

“The deadline had been given for producers of alcoholic beverages to phase out 100ml and those in sachets and the rest so that we reduce the menace of abuse of alcohol by the youth and the general public.

“NAFDAC has stopped the registration for the manufacturing of alcoholic bitter drink that is below 200ml; this is due to the abuse of the drink by Nigerians.

“Due to its small size and affordability, even primary school pupils buy it to drink, and this is affecting their mental wellbeing.

“Also, most drivers at motor parks buy this sachet alcoholic drink and consume it before embarking on their journey, thus putting the lives of passengers at risk.

“That is why we are here to tell the manufacturers to stop producing it. Once we are able to stop production from the source, people will not have access to it again,” he said.

Moses urged Nigerians to desist from the excessive consumption of alcoholic due to its adverse effect on the brain and human behaviour.

Read Also: NAFDAC goes after fake, substandard, falsified imported medicines

He said NAFDAC would not rest on its oars to mop up the sachet alcoholic drinks of 100ml and below from the Nigerian market.

NAN reports that the sachet drinks were confiscated in some of the manufacturing companies in Osogbo, Ilesa and Ile-Ife.

NAN also reports that NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, had recently announced the commencement of the enforcement of the ban on importation, manufacturing, distribution, sales and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, pet and glass bottles of 200ml and below.

According to her, as of Jan. 31, there is no alcoholic beverage in these categories that are registered by the agency.

(NAN)

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday sealed three alcoholic beverage producing factories in Jos, for not complying with good manufacturing practice and operating without NAFDAC certification.

Mr Umar Suleiman, the Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, Federal Task Force Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, disclosed this when he led a team on the raid in Jos.

Suleiman said that one of the factories was also sealed for producing banned alcoholic beverages, adding that it also produced other products without the agency’s registration.

He said that Bemag Industries Nigeria Ltd. and Good Life Global Beverages Ltd. were sealed for none adherence to good manufacturing practice.

He revealed that Stevenson Multi Global Ltd. was sealed for producing banned alcoholic beverages in sachets worth N6 million, adding that the agency sealed it for none adherence to good manufacturing practice and for producing without the agency’s registration.

Suleiman, who said that the raid was conducting nationwide followed the Jan. 31, 2024 deadline given by the agency in 2018 to producers of alcoholic beverages to desist from producing alcohol in 100ml. 20ml, 30 ml and in sachets.

He said the move was to help reduce the menace of alcohol abuse in the nation especially among the youths.

Suleiman cautioned producers of alcoholic beverages to desist from producing what had been banned by the agency as the raid was continuous.

He cautioned sellers to desist from selling alcoholic beverages in sachets, small volume plastic and glass bottles from 100ml and below.

Read Also: NAFDAC goes after fake, substandard, falsified imported medicines

Suleiman also warned the public to desist from purchasing products without NAFDAC certification, as most of the products without NAFDAC certification were not good for human consumption.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agency has stopped the registration of alcohol in sachet and small volume PET and Glass bottles below 200ml amidst other stringent regulatory measures.

This followed the recommendation of the committee of Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in December 2018, to reduce the availability and curb abuse of alcohol in the country.

(NAN)

The National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated its determination to rid Nigeria of falsified and substandard medicines by taking the war to importers of foreign medicines.

The Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye said it is no longer acceptable that over 50 percent of imported medicines which are either substandard or falsified would be allowed in circulation in the country due to the attendant health and socioeconomic consequences.

While the Director-General acknowledged that a significant portion of substandard and falsified medicines originates from Southeast Asia, she also pointed out that some dishonest Nigerians are involved in illicit activities.

While addressing policy makers, regulatory and enforcement agencies on SF medicines in Abuja on Monday, February 5, Adeyeye explained that FS is a multifaceted issue that transcends the borders of Nigeria.

She said with more than 50 percent of Nigeria’s imported medicines coming from Southeast Asia, NAFDAC is poised to take the fight to the exporting countries.

Expressing concern that falsified and substandard medicines undermine government efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Director-General lamented that certain countries possessing a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP), which is meant to ensure the quality of medicines, are contributing to the prevalence of such substandard and falsified drugs.

According to her, the issue becomes complicated when most member countries cannot effect and adhere to standards.

She expressed regret that despite having 55 African countries as members of the CoPP, including Southeast Asian and other countries, some nations from Southeast Asia were still involved in exporting falsified and substandard medicines to Nigeria.

Read Also: Imported medical syringes killing local industry, says NAFDAC

The DG said: “Most of our medicines come from Southeast Asia and we belong to the member states too. We have a scheme where before medicines that were approved leave that part of the world, we do pre-shipment testing, and that comes with CPP to assure us of quality, but that is not the case, because through our scheme we have been able to stop over 140 products that were approved from coming in.

“We found out that more than 50 percent of the CPPs that come into our country are fake. Part of the responsibility is our people that go to China or India and we are going to deal with it. It’s a Member States issue, and we are going to deal with it”.

She, however, assured that NAFDAC will take the fight to those countries, “It is a member-state issue that is why we are going to fight for it because it undermines the government’s efforts on Universal Health Coverage.

“It is also a multifaceted issue and that is why our (NAFDAC) regulatory inspection is more stringent now. We have discovered that mutual agreement between countries is harming one party, we will end it.”

She stated that NAFDAC’s robust measures against foreign companies aim to foster the growth of local pharmaceutical companies, to have 70 percent of Nigeria’s requirements manufactured domestically, while 30 percent is sourced through imports.

Nevertheless, she urged stakeholders and enforcement agencies to contribute to the efforts of tracking the supply chain, even as NAFDAC’s approach of deploying the “prevent, detect, and respond” strategy is being implemented vigorously.

“We are very stringent than ever and there is no cutting of corners, we have blacklisted many companies, we have sanctioned them because we want people to respect our own people.

“Trade is a mutual agreement and if that agreement is harming one part of the agreement, we will stop it. If a company is suspected to be compromising, in two hours we will be there, and we will shut the company down.

“The NAFDAC’s mandate puts a burden on us to see a reduction in substandard and falsified medicines, both the ones that are locally manufactured and the ones that are imported.

“NAFDAC is doing its best to fight substandard and falsified medicines and products based on three thematic areas, which are to prevent, detect, and respond. It is a community effort to fight this and we seek partnership to find out lapses so we can fight it,” she stated.

• Govt moves to reduce cost of needles, syringes

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the low demand for locally produced medical syringes.

The agency said the nation’s preference for importation was negatively impacting local manufacturing of the medical essentials.

NAFDAC was reacting to the discovery of over 1.5 billion unsold units of the product in one local factory alone.

Its Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, noted that the situation was disappointment because the quality of facilities in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical companies was at par with those in the United States or European countries.

The NAFDAC boss urged the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) to put machinery in motion to curb the importation of syringes.

In a statement by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, Prof. Adeyeye stressed the need for ANLCA to prioritise the nation’s interests over personal gains in playing their roles as clearing agents at the nation’s ports.

Read Also: US professor accidentally shot dead by security bidding him ‘goodbye’ in Osun

The NAFDAC boss spoke when she hosted the newly inaugurated executives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), led by its National President, Mr. Emenike Nwokochi, at the agency’s Lagos corporate office.

Adeyeye said the standard of the facilities she met on ground was comparable to whatever facility that could be found in the U.S. or any country in Europe.

The NAFDAC boss said after the facility tour and checking the warehouse, she was disturbed at the sight of so many unsold products.

She told her guests that over 1.5 billion units of the product were lying untouched in the warehouse due to low sales, exacerbated by the influx of imported syringes into the country, despite the high import duty slammed on the product to protect the local market.

Adeyeye expressed concern that intelligence reaching her indicated that there was an illegal importation of unregistered containers of syringes into the country.

Also, the Federal Government has held a meeting with needles and syringes manufacturers in Nigeria to reduce the cost of producing pharmaceutical products.

The meeting was presided over by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite.

Following the closed-door session, Alausa told reporters that they had a fruitful discussion with needle and syringe manufacturers.

He added that there were five companies still operating in the country dedicated to the production of needles and syringes.

Alausa said the meeting was convened in accordance with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to decrease the expenses associated with pharmaceutical products and medical supplies in the country.

He said: “That was why this meeting was quickly held. We explored and discussed many practical solutions where we can begin to have some quick wins, some immediate solutions that will be incorporated into the Executive Order that the President has asked us to work on as well as the medium term solutions and long term solutions on how we can get this problem permanently and completely resolved.”

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to the public about the sale of counterfeit Arla Dano 14g full cream Milk Powder across states in Nigeria.

According to a statement released on Wednesday, January 24, by NAFDAC on the incident, investigations by the TG Arla Dairy Product Enterprise company (Holder of Certificate of Registration) discovered that the counterfeited products were displayed openly in the market.

The statement reads in part: “AFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to conduct surveillance and mop up the counterfeited Arla Dano 14g full cream Milk Powder across the states in Nigeria.

Read Also: Drug abuse: NAFDAC begins tracking, tracing of tramadol, codeine, others

“NAFDAC implores distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance to avoid consuming, selling, or distributing counterfeit products. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

“Anyone possessing the counterfeit Arla Dano 14g full cream Milk Powder is advised to submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office. Suppose you, or someone you know, have consumed this product or suffered any adverse reaction/event after consumption. In that case, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

“Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicion of distribution and sale of counterfeit or unwholesome packaged food products to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.

“Similarly, consumers are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the consumption of unwholesome packaged food products to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng .”