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NAFDAC Reaffirms Ban on Sachet Alcoholic Beverages

Written by Jerry Alomatu on June 19, 2024

News Views: 72

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Moji Adeyeye, reiterated that the ban on the sale and consumption of sachet alcoholic beverages in Nigeria remains in effect. This statement was made during a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, which was monitored via Zoom.

Adeyeye emphasized that the ban, a ministerial directive, would continue until the ministers respond. “The ban on sachet alcohol is a ministerial directive and the ban still remains until the ministers respond. The meeting last week Thursday is a continuation of the discussion,” she said. The meeting concluded that a memo should be sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with further discussions set to continue after the House recess in July.

This clarification comes after the deputy spokesman for the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, announced last Friday that the House and NAFDAC had resolved to temporarily lift the ban. The resolution followed a meeting between the House Committee and NAFDAC officials. Agbese noted that the temporary lifting of the ban would end once the economy fully recovers from its current strain.

NAFDAC initially enforced the ban on February 1, 2024, prohibiting the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below. This decision was based on the recommendation of a high-powered committee comprising the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and industry representatives from the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers, as well as the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, in December 2018.

Despite the ban’s enforcement, there have been repeated protests from distillers and labor unions, arguing that the ban would result in the loss of 500,000 jobs and the ruin of N800 billion in investments. Medical experts have also warned that lifting the ban could lead to severe health complications, increased road traffic accidents, and heightened risks of alcohol abuse, liver problems, heart-related issues, and cancers, among other health concerns.

The outcome of ongoing discussions and the future of the ban on sachet alcoholic beverages remain uncertain, as stakeholders continue to weigh the economic implications against public health concerns.