The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced that it would stop the registration of alcohol in sachet and small volume PET and glass bottles below 200millilitres (ml) with the aim of reducing the availability of alcohol and also curbing alcohol abuse in the country. The Agency would also ensure that the validity of renewal of already registered products would not exceed the year 2024.
This was disclosed on Monday in a statement signed by the Director-General (DG), NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye. According to reports, the new regulation regarding the ban on the registration of new alcoholic drinks in sachet and small volume bottles above 30 percent ABV (alcohol by volume) followed recommendations of a committee made up of the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in 2018.
The statement reads in part, “The Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria was also given a marching order to embark on intensive nationwide sensitization campaigns against underage consumption of alcohol by adolescents below the age of 18 years in the bid to stem the tide of alcohol abuse in the country.
“Producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume agreed to reduce production by 50% with effect from January 31st, 2020 while ensuring the products are completely phased out in the country by January 31st, 2024.”
The Agency directed affected manufacturers to reformulate their products according to the stipulated standards and also warned that violators of this directive would be arrested and prosecuted.