The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered manufacturers of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/plastic bottles below 200ml to commence a nationwide recall of the prohibited products.
The agency also warned that companies found violating the Federal Government’s ban on the products risk continued closure of their facilities, suspension or revocation of product registrations, placement on its Regulatory Watchlist and possible criminal prosecution.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this on Monday, saying the enforcement was aimed at protecting public health and reducing harmful alcohol consumption, particularly among children and young persons.
“The enforcement was aimed at protecting public health and reducing harmful alcohol consumption, particularly among children and young persons,” Adeyeye said.
She explained that the latest action followed the signing of an Irrevocable Enforcement Undertaking by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) on behalf of their member companies.
According to her, the agreement requires affected manufacturers to immediately withdraw all alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/plastic bottles below 200ml from distributors, warehouses and other points within the supply chain.
“The undertaking requires affected manufacturers to immediately recall all alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/plastic bottles below 200ml from distributors, warehouses and other points within the supply chain,” she stated.
The NAFDAC boss added that manufacturers would be required to submit periodic compliance reports to the agency, while recalled products would undergo inventory verification and destruction under NAFDAC supervision, with the manufacturers bearing the cost.
Adeyeye said the ban followed years of consultations involving NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), DIBAN and AFBTE.
She recalled that concerns over the availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in small containers became prominent in 2018 due to their affordability, portability and accessibility, which regulators feared could encourage underage drinking.
Following discussions with industry stakeholders, a five-year moratorium was granted in December 2018 to allow manufacturers to adjust production lines and phase out sachet alcohol and other small-volume containers.
The deadline was later extended to December 31, 2025, following interventions by industry players and the National Assembly, before the full ban took effect on January 1, 2026.
The ban covers alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET bottles below 200ml and glass bottles below 200ml.
NAFDAC said research findings showed that minors and underage persons had significant access to alcoholic drinks through small packaging, citing data indicating that 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage persons procure alcohol in sachets.
The agency also said 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of underage persons obtain alcoholic beverages packaged in PET bottles.
Since the commencement of the ban, NAFDAC said it had adopted a phased enforcement approach, beginning with manufacturers in January before expanding to markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and distribution centres in July.
The agency said some banned products were still being discovered at distribution points, leading to further regulatory actions, including factory closures and arrests of individuals allegedly involved in continued production.
NAFDAC said sealed facilities would only be reopened after manufacturers provide evidence that production lines used for prohibited pack sizes have been dismantled, permanently disabled or reconfigured under the supervision of its officials.
The agency listed full compliance with the recall directive, payment of regulatory charges, supervised destruction of recalled products and satisfactory inspection and certification by NAFDAC as conditions for reopening affected facilities.
Adeyeye stressed that the policy was not a ban on alcohol consumption but a measure to prevent the proliferation of high-alcohol-content products sold in cheap and easily accessible small containers.
“This is not a prohibition of alcohol consumption generally, but an effort to curb the proliferation of high-alcohol-content products in cheap and easily accessible small containers,” she said.
She urged members of the public to report the manufacture, sale or distribution of prohibited alcoholic beverages to NAFDAC through its official communication channels or nearest office.
NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to continued engagement with industry stakeholders while maintaining strict enforcement of regulations aimed at protecting the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.
