By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced a nationwide enforcement operation targeting markets, bars, motor parks and other distribution channels to remove alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles below 200 millilitres from circulation.
The agency said the exercise reinforces the Federal Government’s ban on the production, importation and sale of sachet alcohol and small-sized PET-bottled alcoholic drinks across the country.
According to NAFDAC, enforcement teams have been deployed across the six geopolitical zones to identify, seize and destroy the prohibited products following the closure of manufacturing facilities found to be violating the ban.
The agency warned manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, hawkers and transporters to voluntarily surrender any remaining stock, stressing that continued possession or sale of the banned products could attract seizure, regulatory sanctions and prosecution.
NAFDAC described the operation as part of a sustained enforcement and public awareness campaign aimed at eliminating harmful alcohol products from the market and protecting children and adolescents from alcohol abuse.
The agency said the initiative is designed to reduce underage drinking, curb harmful alcohol consumption and promote responsible drinking among adults.
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It clarified that the enforcement is not targeted at manufacturers producing alcoholic beverages within the approved packaging thresholds, but rather at operators dealing in products that have been declared illegal because of the public health risks they pose.
NAFDAC also appealed to Nigerians to support the nationwide exercise by reporting individuals and businesses involved in the production, storage or sale of sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in PET bottles below 200ml.
The agency urged consumers to avoid patronising the banned products, describing them as unregistered, unsafe and illegal.
It further advised members of the public to report any suspicious activities relating to the prohibited alcoholic beverages to the nearest NAFDAC office.
The nationwide raid forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to strengthen public health, combat substance abuse and prevent underage access to alcoholic beverages.
