In response to the recent ban on Nivea’s Black & White Invisible Roll-on deodorant, the German manufacturer Beiersdorf has clarified that this product has been discontinued since 2022. The company added that it neither advertises nor sells this product in Nigeria.
This development follows a public warning by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which advised against the use of Nivea’s Black & White Invisible Body Deodorant. According to NAFDAC, the product was recalled in Europe over alleged concerns about its chemical composition, which includes substances prohibited in cosmetics.
In a statement addressing NAFDAC’s announcement, Beiersdorf explained that the product contains a chemical called 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde, also known as BMHCA. NAFDAC has flagged this chemical, citing potential reproductive health risks, skin irritation, and harm to unborn children as reasons for the ban.
The European Union banned the use of 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde, also known as Lilial™, in cosmetic products as of March 1, 2022. Beiersdorf clarified that the product batch associated with these concerns, numbered 93529610, was produced before this regulation and had expired by January 2022. As such, Beiersdorf claims it was compliant with European standards at the time of its distribution and never marketed within Nigeria.
Emphasizing its commitment to safety, the company assured the public that its products undergo rigorous quality checks to adhere to international standards. “Our entire NIVEA line has been reformulated to exclude Lilial well in advance of the EU regulation,” the company noted.
Beiersdorf also highlighted that the NIVEA Black & White Invisible Roll-on deodorant has been free of Lilial since at least 2020, including in Nigeria.
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