In a deliberate move to decrease access and curb alcohol misuse in the country, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned the registration of alcohol in sachet and small volume PET and Glass bottles below 200ml, among other regulatory measures.
In a statement, Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye said, that registration of new alcoholic drinks in satchet and small volume PET and Glass bottles above 30% ABV (alcohol by volume) has been banned by NAFDAC following the recommendations of the committee Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and Industry represented by Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) in December 2018.
“In a decisive move to reduce availability and curb abuse of alcohol in the country, NAFDAC has stopped the registration of alcohol in Sachet and Small volume PET and Glass bottles below 200ml amidst other stringent regulatory measures,” the statement said.
According to NAFDAC’s executive director, the agency would ensure that the validity of renewal of already registered alcoholic items in the affected category does not surpass 2024. She stated that manufacturers of low-volume alcoholic beverages (200ml) who had already submitted satisfactory laboratory reports to NAFDAC for registration before the ruling were ordered to free of charge reformulate their products to meet the new criteria.
According to her, DIBAN was also given a matching order to embark on intensive nationwide sensitization campaigns against underage consumption of alcohol by adolescents below the age of 18 years in the bid to stem the tide of alcohol abuse in the country.
She further explained that the producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume agreed to reduce production by 50% with effect from January 31st 2020 while ensuring the products are completely phased out in the country by 31st January, 2024.
“Even as we grapple with the containment of COVID-19 pandemic, NAFDAC is resolutely committed to the strict implementation of the regulations and regulatory measures towards safeguarding the Health of Nigerians particularly the vulnerable youths against the dangers of reckless consumption of Alcohol.”
