The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced full enforcement of the Federal Government’s ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/plastic bottles below 200ml.
The agency, in a statement issued on Monday, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, NAFDAC Prof. Mojisola Adeyeyesaid the enforcement followed extensive consultations with relevant government agencies and industry stakeholders, including the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), as well as the expiration of agreed transition periods for manufacturers.
The ban was introduced following concerns raised in 2018 over the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content beverages in small, inexpensive and easily concealed packages, which authorities said could increase access to such products among children and young people.
Under a December 2018 Memorandum of Understanding, manufacturers were initially granted a five-year moratorium to enable them to reconfigure production lines and transition to larger packaging sizes.
Following further consultations, the compliance deadline was extended to December 31, 2025, with the ban taking effect from January 1, 2026.
NAFDAC said it subsequently began phased enforcement, starting with manufacturers before expanding to nationwide mop-up operations targeting markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and distribution centres.
As part of the enforcement measures, manufacturers found violating the ban are required to sign Irrevocable Enforcement Undertakings through DIBAN and AFBTE, commence nationwide recalls of prohibited products and submit periodic compliance reports to NAFDAC.
The agency said all recalled products would be inventoried and destroyed under its supervision at the manufacturers’ expense.
NAFDAC also warned that affected facilities would not be allowed to resume operations until the agency verifies the dismantling, permanent disabling or reconfiguration of production lines used to manufacture the prohibited pack sizes and confirms compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.
Defaulting companies, it said, could face continued closure, placement on the NAFDAC Regulatory Watchlist, suspension or revocation of product registrations, investigative charges and other regulatory or legal sanctions.
The agency stressed that the enforcement was primarily a public health measure aimed at reducing access to high-alcohol-content products among children and young persons and curbing alcohol-related harm.
NAFDAC said it remained committed to working with compliant industry stakeholders while ensuring strict adherence to the ban.
It urged members of the public to report the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets or PET/plastic bottles below 200ml through the agency’s official communication channels or at the nearest NAFDAC office.
