FG SET TO BAN SALE OF ALCOHOL IN SMALL BOTTLES AND SACHET - SEE WHY

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The Federal Government has issued directives targeted at phasing out the sale and consumption of alcohol in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate, PET, bottles.

The goal is to reduce availability and curb abuse. Effective January 31 2021, producers of alcohol in sachets and small bottles are to reduce production by 50 per cent of capacity prior to January 2020.

Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, disclosed this in a statement.


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 added that NAFDAC and the ministry of health have engaged major shareholders and have reached certain agreements.

She said the food agency will no longer register new products in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles with contents above 30 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

“These concerns relate to negative effects of irresponsible alcohol consumption on public health and on the safety and security of the public, alcohol being a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties,” she said.

“In 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 2020, 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 2020.

“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 or earlier.”

Prof Adeyeye stated that NAFDAC will work with the Federal Ministry of Health to exercise its regulatory responsibilities by ensuring that all alcoholic beverages and other regulated products approved by the agency meet set standards of quality, safety and wholesomeness.

“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.”

Recall that recently the NAFDAC DG caused stir amongst Nigerians when she disclosed that has stated that it costs the agency between N1 million to N2 million to destroy a container load of Tramadol.

She explained how importers of fake and substandard drugs were having a field day bringing in dangerous products into the country when NAFDAC was not at the ports.

Adeyeye said, “Don’t forget that for seven years, we were not at the port and importers of dangerous drugs were having a field day. Our children were going wacko due to drug abuse that was almost becoming a normal thing in this country.

“In May of 2018, our officials returned to the ports and gave importers of these illicit drugs a run for their money. Many containers of Tramadol were impounded by NAFDAC and destroyed. To destroy a container of Tramadol, it costs around N1million to N2 million.

“Importers of these illicit drugs, when it dawned on them that we are back at the ports, started diverting some of these shipments to neighbouring countries in the West African sub-region. We went after them in these countries and still seized their shipments.

“As I speak, five containers of Tramadol meant for the Nigerian market are in the Benin Republic. The Nigerian Ambassador over there is currently making efforts to bring those consignments here for destruction. The NAFDAC Directorate at the port is up and running.


“There was a time I was in the United Kingdom (UK) for a family function and got alerted that 14 container shipment of Tramadol was on its way to Lagos. I quickly called our Port Directorate and alerted them to ensure those shipments do not enter the country.”

The NAFDAC boss also explained how she had met decaying laboratories when she had resumed office as DG.

“On resumption as NAFDAC DG, I was shocked at the state of decay in our laboratories all over the country.

“We have seven laboratories nationwide, and many were in a state of rot. How can we certify drugs and foods when our labs are not properly equipped?

“As we speak, our laboratories have been given a facelift. Now we have some money to buy some detection devices, and this will reduce the numbers of goods that we need to take to the laboratory for examination.

“Last year, I was in India and China to examine some of their laboratories where goods meant for importation to Nigeria are tested.

“In these countries, they have Clean Report Inspection (CRI) Agents who certify these products before they are shipped to Nigeria. We had to remove two of the CRI Agents because we found them culpable in allowing substandard drugs to come to Nigeria.

“We told them in China and India that we don’t want substandard goods in Nigeria anymore.”

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