…Distillers kick against ban

Members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, planned to stage a peaceful protest against the ban on the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The planned protest was scheduled to take place at the Lagos office of NAFDAC along the Lagos-Oshodi Apapa Expressway, Isolo, today Tuesday.

In January 2022, NAFDAC stopped the registration of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume PET and glass bottles below 200 ml, following the recommendation of a committee comprising the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and industry representatives.

In line with the decision reached, producers agreed to gradually phase out the production of alcohol in sachets and small volumes, with a deadline set for January 31st, 2024.

Briefing journalists last Monday, in Abuja, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, announced that the agency would start enforcing the ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200 ml and below.

Adeyeye said the agency was collaborating with the National Union of Road Transport Workers to enforce the ban.

The NAFDAC DG, also announced the commencement of other nationwide enforcement actions to ensure the implementation of the new policy, highlighting the agency’s seriousness in dealing with manufacturers not complying with the ban.

Adeyeye stressed NAFDAC’s commitment to implementing regulations to safeguard the health of Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable youth, against the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.

She also emphasised the negative effects of alcohol consumption, particularly among underage individuals, commercial vehicle drivers, and riders, as highlighted by the World Health Organisation.

The NAFDAC boss, also outlined recommendations by the World Health Organisation on actions and strategies for policymakers to effectively curb the abuse of alcohol, which include regulating the marketing and availability of alcoholic beverages.

The agency, on Tuesday sealed three alcoholic beverage-producing factories in Jos, for not complying with good manufacturing practices and operating without NAFDAC certification.

The Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer of the Federal Task Force Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Umar Suleiman, disclosed this when he led a team on the raid in Jos.

Suleiman said that one of the factories was also sealed for producing banned alcoholic beverages, adding that it also produced other products without the agency’s registration.

He said that Bemag Industries Nigeria Ltd. and Good Life Global Beverages Ltd. were sealed for non-adherence to good manufacturing practices.

Suleiman revealed that Stevenson Multi Global Ltd. was sealed for producing banned alcoholic beverages in sachets worth N6 million, adding that the agency sealed it for non-adherence to good manufacturing practices and for producing without the agency’s registration.