Alcohol in sachets and pet bottles, 48 other items banned in Nigeria
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a firm stance on the production of alcohol in sachets and pet bottles of less than 200ml and other items. Kazeem Adeniran, NAFDAC’s assistant chief regulation officer for investigation and enforcement, made the announcement during a two-day enforcement exercise in Ota, Ogun state on Monday.
READ ALSO: 9 tips to spot fake products amid widespread unapproved drinks, food items in Nigeria
This ban aligns with the decision of a committee established in 2018 by the federal ministry of health. Under this agreement, distillers, represented by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), are obligated to cease the production of alcohol in sachets and pet bottles of less than 200ml by January 31, 2024.
Adeniran noted that the committee consisted of representatives from NAFDAC, DIBAN, and other stakeholders. Despite the agreement reached in 2018, these companies were found to be still producing alcohol below 200ml at the time of the enforcement exercise, contrary to the agreed timeline.
He emphasized that the resolution clearly stipulated the cessation of production for such alcohol packaging by 2024 and the shift to producing alcohol in sizes exceeding 200ml. As a result, NAFDAC is enforcing the expectation that alcohol sachets and pet bottles of under 200ml should not be available for consumption in the Nigerian market.
Adeniran also mentioned that any products found in violation during the enforcement exercise would be subject to destruction.
“These companies were still producing those alcohols below 200ml at the time we carried out this enforcement exercise, which is not supposed to be,” NAN quoted Adeniran as saying.
“It is clearly stated after the meeting in 2018 that they should stop the production of such alcohol in sachets and pet bottles by 2024 and embark on production of alcohol above 200ml.
READ ALSO: No, to alcohol; yes, to proceeds of alcohol
“Therefore, we are not expecting to see these alcohol sachets and pet bottles in any Nigerian market for consumption, he added.”
Other items banned in Nigeria include:
- Cement
- Margarine
- Palm kernel/palm oil products/vegetable oils
- Meat and processed meat products
- Vegetables and processed vegetable products
- Poultry chicken, eggs, turkey
- Private airplanes/jets
- Indian incense
- Tinned fish in sauce (geisha)/sardines
- Cold rolled steel sheets
- Galvanised steel sheets
- Roofing sheets
- Wheelbarrows
- Head pans
- Metal boxes and containers
- Enamelware
- Steel drums
- Steel pipes
- Wire rods (deformed and not deformed)
- Iron rods and reinforcing bars
- Wire mesh
- Steel nails
- Security and razor wire
- Wood particle boards and panels
- Wood fiber boards and panels
- Plywood boards and panels
- Wooden doors
- Furniture
- Toothpicks
- Glass and glassware
- Kitchen utensils
- Tableware
- Tiles – vitrified and ceramic
- Textiles
- Woven fabrics
- Clothes
- Plastic and rubber products, cellophane wrappers
- Soap and cosmetics
- Tomatoes/tomato pastes
- Euro bond/foreign currency bond/share purchases
- Maize/corn
- Fertiliser
- Live or dead birds including frozen poultry
- Pork, beef, bird’s eggs, excluding hatching eggs
- Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form in retail packs
- Cocoa butter, powder and cakes
- Fruit Juice in retail packs
- production of alcohol in sachets and pet bottles of less than 200ml.
