The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) has sealed up 30 unhygienic sachet water factories in various locations of the state. .
The commission lists the infractions leading to them sealing up the factories as:
- Failure to comply with regulatory provisions
- Unhygienic production environment
- Operating without adherence to statutory manufacturing practices
Mrs Funke Adepoju, Executive Secretary, of LASWARCO told newsmen that the enforcement was in line with the mandate of the commission to protect consumers from unhygienic water consumption.
He added that the exercise would be sustained as LASWARCO had made efforts in the past, to engage and sensitize sachet water producers on best practices in the interest of consumers.
According to her, “In as much as we have the mandate to ensure that operators remain in business, we also cannot fold our arms and allow infractions to fester without being addressed. The primary regulatory mandate of the Commission is to ensure that operators in the water abstraction, production and distribution industry comply with best manufacturing procedures to safeguard the health of the people”.
Adepoju added that the level of unwholesome practices found at some of the sachet water factories was frightening and that the commission will do everything to protect the lives of consumers.
In her words, “The enforcement team of LASWARCO visited some water production factories in the State with on-site testing kits and the result confirmed that most of them are operating far below safety parameters.
“As the regulatory body empowered by Section 313 (h) of the Lagos State Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017, to regulate the activities of those engaged in the provision, consumption, treatment, packaging, sales and supply of bottled drinking water contained in bottles or polythene bags, our principal interest is to ensure acceptable standards”.