The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated its commitment to enforcing the ban on sachet alcohol and codeine syrup to curb abuse and enhance public safety.
NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, emphasized that the agency began enforcing the ban on alcohol sold in sachets and in less than 200ml PET bottles on February 1, 2024, following a five-year moratorium.
“The moratorium, agreed upon in December 2018, involved the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), the Association of Food Beverage & Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), the Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC),” the statement reads.
Despite recommendations from the House Committee on Food and Drug Administration to suspend the ban, NAFDAC is awaiting a directive from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
A meeting held on June 13, 2024, in the Speaker’s Office with NAFDAC’s Director-General and House Committee representatives discussed the ban.
The committee suggested suspending it, but Adeyeye stressed that further instructions from the Coordinating Minister are required. Discussions are set to continue after the House returns from recess in July.
Regarding the ban on codeine syrup, which was instituted on May 1, 2018, by former Health Minister Prof. Isaac Folorunsho Adewole, NAFDAC reaffirmed that the ban remains in effect.
Reports suggesting the ban has been lifted are false, and NAFDAC is dedicated to enforcing this prohibition to prevent misuse and ensure public safety