Production Of Sachet Alcohol, Others Banned In Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned the production and registration of alcohol in sachet and small volume PET bottles in the country.

Naija News reports that the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this disclosure during an event in Abuja on Monday.

She stated that the registration of new alcoholic drinks in sachet and small volume PET and Glass bottles above 30 per cent ABV (alcohol by volume) has been banned.

Adeyeye added that the agency will ensure that the validity of the renewal of already registered alcoholic products in the affected category will not exceed the year 2024.

She noted that the producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume agreed to reduce production by 50 percent with effect from January 31, 2020, while ensuring the products are completely phased out in the country by 31st January 2024.

The NAFDAC boss revealed that the decision to ban the registration of sachet alcohol came from the recommendation of a high powered Committee of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC and some major stakeholders in December 2018.

Adeyeye explained that manufacturers of low volume alcohol beverages (200ml) with satisfactory laboratory reports, which were already submitted to NAFDAC for registration before this decision, have been directed to reformulate their products to stipulated standards free of charge.

She noted that the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) was also given a matching order to embark on intensive nationwide sensitisation campaigns against underage consumption of alcohol in a bid to stem the tide of alcohol abuse in the country.