Reps suspends NAFDAC’s ban on sachet alcoholic drinks, pet bottles

The Nigerian House of Representatives has directed the National Agency on Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to temporarily lift the ban on spirits and alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles. This decision was made by the House Committee on NAFDAC, led by Regina Akume, following a public hearing on the matter.

During the public hearing, attended by various stakeholders, including the NAFDAC DG, representatives of the food and beverage industry, and law enforcement agencies, the committee considered the health concerns raised by NAFDAC. However, after hearing arguments from producers, civil society, and organized labor, who emphasized the adverse economic impact of the ban, the committee sided with the latter group.

The House committee acknowledged the unemployment and hardships caused by factory closures and proposed implementing access control measures to prevent underage consumption of alcoholic content from sachets and pet bottles. Consequently, the committee recommended the suspension of the NAFDAC ban pending further investigation and adjourned its proceedings indefinitely.

Protests against the ban had taken place in various cities, with stakeholders expressing concerns about job losses and its economic repercussions. The ban, which commenced on February 1, 2024, targeted sachets and small-volume PET and glass bottles below 200ml, as part of NAFDAC’s efforts to address health risks associated with underage access to alcoholic drinks.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that the ban aimed to control unrestricted underage access to alcohol, citing health risks to children. However, the House committee’s decision reflects the need to balance health concerns with the economic impact and explore alternative measures to address the issue.