Sachet Alcohol Sales Remain Restricted, NAFDAC Reports

Sachet Alcohol Sales Remain Restricted, NAFDAC Reports

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed that the ban on sachet alcoholic beverages remains in effect across Nigeria. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Adeyeye emphasized that the ban, which was initiated by ministerial directive, continues until further notice from the relevant authorities. She disclosed that discussions on the matter are ongoing, with a recent meeting suggesting that formal communications to the Speaker of the House of Representatives will follow, resuming further deliberations after the parliamentary recess in July.

Last week, the House of Representatives, represented by its deputy spokesman Philip Agbese, announced a temporary lifting of the ban following negotiations between the House Committee and NAFDAC officials. This decision is intended to be in place until the national economy fully recovers from its current challenges.

NAFDAC had initially enforced the ban on February 1, 2024, covering the importation, manufacturing, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml or less. This action was based on recommendations from a committee comprising the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and industry stakeholders, including the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers, and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, made in December 2018.

Despite the regulatory move, protests from distillers and labor unions have persisted, arguing that the ban could lead to significant job losses and threaten investments worth N800 billion. Conversely, medical experts have cautioned that lifting the ban could exacerbate health issues such as alcohol abuse, road accidents, and various chronic illnesses.

The situation remains fluid as stakeholders and government bodies continue to navigate the complexities surrounding the ban on sachet alcoholic beverages in Nigeria.