The German company that produces NIVEA, Beiersdorf, has responded to a recent warning from Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control about its Black & White Invisible Roll-on deodorant.
The company confirmed that this product was discontinued globally in 2022 and is neither sold nor advertised in Nigeria.
NAFDAC recently raised concerns over the deodorant, citing its recall in Europe due to the presence of a harmful chemical called 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA), also known as LilialTM.
According to NAFDAC, BMHCA can cause skin irritation and potentially harm reproductive health, impacting both users and unborn children.
In response, Beiersdorf on Saturday stated that this ingredient has not been used in NIVEA products since at least 2020 and that the company had already adapted to European Union regulations.
“Production of the NIVEA Black & White Invisible Roll-on deodorant was discontinued in February 2022, before the BMHCA ban, and was fully compliant with EU cosmetic regulations at that time,” Beiersdorf said in a statement. The company clarified that the specific batch mentioned by NAFDAC expired in January 2022 and was never marketed in Nigeria.
Beiersdorf reassured its customers, saying, “Our entire NIVEA portfolio has been reformulated to exclude Lilial well ahead of the EU regulation.” The company added that it is working closely with NAFDAC to ensure strict quality standards and protect Nigerian consumers.
The company stated, “We remain committed to global safety standards and assure our customers that our products meet all regulatory requirements.”
