Regulatory Affairs
Alcohol Manufacturers Had Six Years to Prepare for Sachet Alcohol Ban, NAFDAC Says
NAFDAC says the enforcement of Nigeria's ban on sachet alcohol was not abrupt, noting that manufacturers were granted a six-year transition period following a 2018 agreement involving industry groups and the Federal Ministry of Health.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has defended the timeline leading to the enforcement of Nigeria's ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in containers smaller than 200 millilitres, insisting that manufacturers were given ample time to comply.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said the policy followed years of consultations between government and industry stakeholders.
According to her, an agreement was signed in December 2018 between NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE).
The agreement granted manufacturers a five-year transition period to reorganise their production and business operations before the ban would take full effect.
Adeyeye explained that after the initial transition period expired, an additional one-year extension was granted, extending the moratorium to the end of 2025.
She said that despite the extensions, some manufacturers continued to seek further postponements instead of complying with the agreed timeline.
According to the NAFDAC Director-General, the Senate subsequently resolved that no further extension should be granted and supported full enforcement of the policy.
She added that the National Alcohol Policy also provides for restrictions on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and containers smaller than 200 millilitres because of the associated public health risks.
Adeyeye maintained that the enforcement exercise reflects long-standing government policy rather than a sudden regulatory decision.
She called on manufacturers to comply with the regulations and support efforts aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm, particularly among young people.