The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered manufacturers of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and plastic bottles below 200ml to recall and destroy the affected products.
In a statement on Monday, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC
director-general, said the directive followed the expiration of the transition
period given to manufacturers to comply with the federal government’s ban on
the sale and production of alcoholic drinks in the prohibited pack sizes.
The ban took effect on January 1, 2026, following concerns
over the accessibility of high-alcohol-content beverages in small, inexpensive
and easily concealed packages.
Adeyeye said manufacturers found violating the ban must
commence nationwide recalls of the affected products and submit periodic
compliance reports to NAFDAC.
She said the recalled products would be inventoried and
destroyed under the agency’s supervision, with manufacturers bearing the cost.
NAFDAC said it has commenced phased enforcement of the ban,
beginning with manufacturers and extending to markets, motor parks, retail
outlets, bars and distribution centres nationwide.
The agency said affected manufacturers would also be
required to sign irrevocable enforcement undertakings through the Distillers
and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and the Association of Food,
Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE).
Adeyeye noted that facilities found producing the prohibited
products would remain closed until NAFDAC verifies that the relevant production
lines have been dismantled, permanently disabled or reconfigured.
She warned that defaulting manufacturers could face
continued closure, placement on NAFDAC’s regulatory watchlist, suspension or
revocation of product registrations and other regulatory or legal sanctions.
“If you are a manufacturer of alcoholic beverages in sachets
and PET bottles less than 200ml and we find your product in the market, you
will be fined heavily,” the statement reads.
“And the manufacturing facility will be closed down
permanently. We will use POCA, Proceeds of Crime Law, to deal with such
manufacturing.”
Adeyeye said industry groups had indicated their readiness
to comply with the ban, adding that manufacturers had previously proposed
reconfiguring their production lines to meet the new requirements.
Manufacturers were initially given a five-year moratorium
under a December 2018 memorandum of understanding to reconfigure their
production lines and transition to larger pack sizes.
Following further consultations with stakeholders, the
deadline was extended to December 31, 2025.
NAFDAC said the enforcement is aimed at reducing the
accessibility of high-alcohol-content products to children and young people and
curbing alcohol-related harm.
The agency urged members of the public to report the
manufacture, distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets or
PET/plastic bottles below 200ml to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its
official communication channels.
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