NAFDAC Tightens Noose on Sachet Alcohol, Orders Nationwide Recall

"The enforcement was aimed at protecting public health and reducing harmful alcohol consumption, particularly among children and young persons." Prof Adeyeye, DG NAFDAC

.... Says "the latest enforcement followed the execution of an Irrevocable Enforcement Undertaking by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers on behalf of their member companies.

"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."

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has stepped up enforcement of the Federal Government’s ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/plastic bottles below 200ml, ordering affected manufacturers to commence a nationwide recall of the prohibited products.

The agency also warned that companies found violating the directive risk continued closure of their facilities, suspension or revocation of product registrations, placement on its Regulatory Watchlist and possible criminal prosecution.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in a press briefing issued on Monday, stressing that the enforcement was aimed at protecting public health and reducing harmful alcohol consumption, particularly among children and young persons.

According to her, the latest enforcement followed the execution of an Irrevocable Enforcement Undertaking by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers on behalf of their member companies.

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.

The companies are also expected to submit periodic compliance reports to NAFDAC.

Adeyeye said recalled products would be subjected to inventory verification and destruction under the agency’s supervision, with manufacturers bearing the full cost of the destruction.

The NAFDAC boss explained that the ban was not an abrupt policy, noting that it followed years of consultations involving the regulator, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, DIBAN and AFBTE.

She recalled that concerns over the proliferation of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small bottles became prominent in 2018, with regulators warning that their affordability, portability and accessibility could encourage underage drinking.

Following negotiations with manufacturers, a five-year moratorium was agreed upon in December 2018, giving the industry until January 31, 2024, to reconfigure production lines, adopt larger packaging formats and phase out sachet alcohol and other small-volume containers.

However, resistance from industry stakeholders and intervention by the National Assembly resulted in a further extension of the deadline to December 31, 2025.

The full ban consequently took effect on January 1, 2026, covering alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET bottles below 200ml and glass bottles below 200ml.

NAFDAC said the policy was reinforced by research showing the extent to which minors and underage persons accessed alcohol through small packaging.

The agency cited findings indicating that 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage persons procure alcoholic drinks in sachets, while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of underage persons obtain alcoholic drinks in PET bottles.

Following the commencement of the ban, NAFDAC adopted a tiered enforcement strategy.

The first phase, which commenced in January, focused on manufacturers. The agency said prohibited products discovered in manufacturing facilities were evacuated and destroyed.

By July, NAFDAC intensified enforcement through nationwide mop-up operations targeting markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and distribution centres.

The agency said banned products were still being discovered at some distribution centres, prompting further regulatory action, including the closure of factories and arrest of personnel allegedly involved in the continued production of sachet alcoholic beverages.

NAFDAC said facilities sealed for violating the ban would not be reopened until manufacturers provide satisfactory evidence that production lines used for prohibited pack sizes have been dismantled, permanently disabled or reconfigured.

Such activities, it added, must be carried out under the direct supervision and verification of NAFDAC officials.

The agency listed full compliance with the recall directive, payment of applicable investigative charges and regulatory fees, supervised destruction of recalled products, verification of the dismantling or reconfiguration of affected equipment, and satisfactory inspection and certification by NAFDAC as conditions for reopening.

NAFDAC also imposed investigative charges on defaulting companies found to have breached regulatory directives concerning the manufacture and distribution of prohibited alcoholic pack sizes.

The agency warned that failure to comply with the undertaking could attract severe sanctions, including continued closure of facilities, regulatory watchlisting, suspension or cancellation of product registrations and criminal prosecution where applicable.

Adeyeye maintained that NAFDAC’s action was not a prohibition of alcohol consumption generally but an attempt to curb the proliferation of high-alcohol-content products in cheap and easily accessible small containers.

She urged members of the public to report the manufacture, sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml to NAFDAC through its official communication channels or nearest office.

The agency reiterated that it would continue to engage industry stakeholders while maintaining strict enforcement of regulations designed to safeguard the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.