The House of Representatives Committee on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has taken a significant step by suspending the ban on the sale of spirits and alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and pet bottles.
This suspension is pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the matter.
Rep. Regina Akume, Chairperson of the House Committee on NAFDAC, made this announcement in Abuja following a public hearing on the ban. She emphasized that proper procedures should have been followed before imposing the ban.
The focus is on implementing access control measures to prevent children and young people from consuming alcoholic content from these packaging formats.
Rep. Akume also highlighted the committee’s responsibility in ensuring NAFDAC’s effectiveness while balancing economic growth and public safety. She pledged to create a level playing field between NAFDAC and manufacturers, ensuring that the decision would not adversely affect children or public well-being.
Earlier, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC, clarified that the ban was initially put in place to safeguard the health and welfare of children, youths, and other vulnerable groups.
“We tried to protect the market, and that was why we agreed to a five-year moratorium for the manufacturers to phase out alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles in December 2018.
The agreement included a five-year moratorium for manufacturers to phase out alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles, starting in December 2018.
Despite this agreement, the agency was surprised by the manufacturers’ mounting campaign against the ban.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that the ban was not unilaterally made by NAFDAC but was based on a ministerial directive. As the five-year period has now expired, NAFDAC faces the challenge of addressing issues related to alcohol consumption while ensuring children’s safety and well-being.
The agency remains supportive of alcohol production but aims to restrict its availability in sachets and pet bottles to prevent unnecessary access by children.
