NAFDAC confirms ban on sachet alcohol, announces enforcement date

• The national authorities archetypal announced a prohibition connected the merchantability of sachet intoxicant drinks successful 2018, with a five-year timeline for manufacturers to comply
• In 2024, NAFDAC announced the enforcement of a implicit prohibition immediately, but the argumentation met with stiff absorption astatine antithetic levels
• In caller developments, determination person been rumours astir a lifting of the ban, but NAFDAC has present spoken to wide up issues

Legit.ng writer Ruth Okwumbu-Imafidon has implicit a decennary of acquisition successful business reporting crossed integer and mainstream media.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed the nationwide prohibition connected sachet alcohol.

This connection comes amid rumours suggesting the authorities had permanently lifted the ban.

Speaking connected the matter, the Director of the FCT Directorate of NAFDAC, Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe said that determination had been a impermanent lifting of the ban, aft which the merchantability of the listed products would beryllium afloat prohibited nationwide.

NAFDAC DG stated that the bureau did not assistance immoderate merchandise shaper renewal licenses past January 2024. Photo Credit: NAFDAC, Ifeanyi Andrew Ibeh
Source: UGC

FG bans sachet alcohol, gives crushed

In February 2024, the federal government banned the production and merchantability of alcoholic drinks successful sachets little than 200ml oregon 20cl.

At the clip of the announcement, NAFDAC insisted that the prohibition was to go effectual immediately.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of NAFDAC, explained that it was earlier communicated to the manufacturers successful 2018.

The program was to person a phased implementation, with a 50% simplification successful accumulation of alcoholic drinks successful sachets and PET bottles by 2020, and a implicit prohibition by January 2024.

Adeyeye explained that owed to their acceptable availability, affordability, and pocket-friendly packaging, children were easy enticed, lone to look the consequences later.

NAFDAC speaks connected impermanent lifting of ban

Mr. Azikiwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) successful Abuja that the impermanent lifting of the prohibition was effectual till December 31, 2025.

He explained that aft the said date, the merchantability of sachet intoxicant drinks would nary longer beryllium allowed successful Nigeria, and urged the nationalist to disregard immoderate accusation to the contrary.

His words;

“After this date, the afloat enforcement of the prohibition volition commence. The curate granted this impermanent alleviation to let manufacturers and regulators clip to collaborate and guarantee a much structured and effectual implementation of the ban.”

He added that sensitisation programmes are ongoing crossed the countries, starting with the distributors who person nonstop work to guarantee that the merchandise is not sold to individuals nether 18 years.

He reiterated that the merchandise would beryllium wholly phased retired by December 2025, and commended the Distillers and Beverages Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) for their enactment and practice towards NAFDAC.

Suspected thugs onslaught NAFDAC officials

Recall that aggravated cause hawkers and touts attacked members of NAFDAC’s probe and enforcement directorate and mobile constabulary officers attached to them successful the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The bureau insisted that the products person adverse effects connected under-aged consumers, astir of whom are attracted by the pocket-friendly packaging Photo credit: NAFDAC
Source: Twitter

This incidental happened soon aft announcing a prohibition connected sachet intoxicant and different drinks, which reports said whitethorn person triggered their actions.

The suspected thugs destroyed the team's bus, throwing stones and different unsafe objects astatine the squad and journalists who were connected manus to show the exercise.

NAFDAC confirms afloat database of banned items

In related news, Legit.ng earlier reported the details of products affected by the NAFDAC prohibition connected alcoholic drinks sold successful sachets and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles.

The banned items see intoxicant successful sachets beneath 200ml, arsenic good arsenic those successful PET and solid bottles.

The ban received commendation from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Muslim Alumni (MAPAMA).

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Source: Legit.ng