NAFDAC Urges Distillers to Halt Production of Alcohol in Small Sachets, Pet Bottles
By Matthew Eloyi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called for an immediate cessation of alcohol production in sachets and pet bottles of less than 200ml by distillers.
This directive, issued by Mr. Kazeem Adeniran, Assistant Chief Regulator Officer of the Investigation and Enforcement Department, NAFDAC, aligns with the agreement reached by a tripartite committee established in 2018.
Adeniran made this call during a two-day enforcement exercise in Ota, Ogun, emphasizing that distillers, particularly those under the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), should cease production of alcohol in small sachets and pet bottles with a capacity below 200ml, effective from January 31. The five-year grace period given was intended to phase out these products.
The enforcement exercise, conducted in Ota and its environs, aimed to safeguard the lives of Nigerians. Companies such as Nigeria Distilleries Limited, International Distillers Limited, Danzchiji Global Nigeria Enterprises, and Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited were among those visited for enforcement.
The tripartite committee, established by the Federal Ministry of Health in 2018, included NAFDAC and DIBAN as members, with the goal of curbing alcohol abuse, especially among the youth. Adeniran expressed disappointment that some companies were still producing alcohols below 200ml, contrary to the agreement reached in 2018.
He reminded distillers of the agreed-upon timeline for the discontinuation of small-sized alcohol production and urged compliance with the committee’s resolution. Products found in violation of the directive during the enforcement exercise will be evacuated, forfeited, and destroyed.
Adeniran reiterated NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that products available in the Nigerian market are safe for consumption.