The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized a significant quantity of alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and PET bottles during an enforcement operation at Wuse Market in Abuja. These products, which include 30ml and 100ml bottle sizes, violate a federal ban on the sale of alcohol in such packaging.
Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe, NAFDAC’s Director for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disclosed this development on Thursday. He emphasized that the agency’s discovery of these prohibited items underscores the need for strict adherence to regulatory guidelines.
Azikiwe urged retailers and distributors to immediately halt the sale of these products and return any remaining inventory to NAFDAC. He also reminded manufacturers of their obligation to comply with a 2018 agreement between NAFDAC and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria. This agreement, aimed at phasing out the sale of alcohol in small, easily accessible packaging, has now reached its final stage of implementation.
“Since 2018, NAFDAC has stopped registering and renewing licenses for these products. Manufacturers were given sufficient time to deplete existing stocks and cease production,” Azikiwe stated. “At this point, any breach of the regulations will attract severe legal consequences. Those found selling these products will face sanctions for dealing in unregistered items.”
He noted that the agency has carried out extensive public awareness campaigns and engaged stakeholders to ensure compliance with the ban. Despite these efforts, he expressed disappointment that some manufacturers and distributors continue to flout the directive, claiming ignorance of the regulations.
Azikiwe also raised concerns about reports of covert production of banned sachet alcohol, assuring that NAFDAC’s investigative team would trace and shut down such operations. He emphasized that the onus is on manufacturers to fully comply with the directive, stressing that the agency remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding public health through robust regulatory measures.
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Chronicles Reporters.