The National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the imminent prohibition of the sale and consumption of alcohol in sachets and pet bottles.
This was disclosed through a statement issued by the director-general of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye.
Adeyeye said uncontrolled access and availability of high concentration alcohol in sachet and small volume PET, or glass bottles contribute to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria.
She explained further that NAFDAC and the Ministry of Health have engaged major shareholders; adding that they have reached certain agreements.
“The Federal Ministry of Health is concerned about the high incidence of substance and alcohol abuse in the country and NAFDAC, being the competent authority and working with relevant stakeholders, is increasing efforts to stem this.”
“With regard to alcohol, major stakeholders have been engaged at the highest level and are already sensitised to the issue. To this end, several interventions jointly agreed upon by major stakeholders are being undertaken and as a first step, no new products in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles above 30 per cent ABV will be registered by NAFDAC”
“Furthermore, to reduce availability and curb abuse, effective January 31 2021, producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles are to reduce production by 50 per cent of capacity prior to January 2021. The overall goal is a complete phase out of high concentration alcohol in sachets and small PET and glass bottles in line with the agreed roadmap.”
