The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced a nationwide recall of banned alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and plastic bottles below 200ml, directing manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to remove the products from circulation or face sanctions including closure and withdrawal of product registrations.
Recall Order and Enforcement
NAFDAC said the recall is aimed at clearing remaining stocks of prohibited alcoholic beverages still available in markets, warehouses, and other points within the supply chain despite the ban. The ban covers alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and those sold in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles below 200ml.
The agency's Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said enforcement teams have been deployed across the country to monitor compliance and ensure that banned products are removed. NAFDAC enforcement officers have been confiscating prohibited small-volume alcoholic drinks and sachets during a nationwide mop-up operation.
Sanctions and Compliance
NAFDAC warned manufacturers that failure to comply with the recall order could result in penalties, including suspension of operations, withdrawal of product registrations, and other regulatory actions. The agency also said recalled products would be documented and destroyed under regulatory supervision, with manufacturers expected to bear the cost of the process.
The enforcement follows earlier measures by the government and regulatory agencies to phase out sachet alcohol and small-volume alcoholic drinks. The Federal Government had previously announced restrictions on the production and distribution of the products following concerns raised by health authorities and stakeholders about alcohol abuse, especially among young people.
Public Health and Reporting
NAFDAC said the restriction was introduced over concerns that the small-sized packaging made alcoholic drinks cheaper, easier to access, and more available to underage consumers. The agency urged consumers, retailers, and distributors to report the continued sale of banned alcoholic drinks to the agency as enforcement continues nationwide.
