The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned the registration of alcoholic drinks in sachets, small pet and glass bottles below 200ml.
This, the agency said is one of the stringent moves to curb alcohol abuse and reduce availability.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye dropped the hint in Abuja. She stated that the registration of new alcoholic drinks in the mentioned volume follows the recommendation by a high-powered committee of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC; Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC); Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE); Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) in December, 2018.
The NAFDAC boss said the agency will ensure that validity of renewal of already registered alcoholic product in the affected category will not exceed the year 2024.
She added that DIBAN has been directed to embark on intensive nationwide sensitisation campaign against underage consumption of alcohol by adolescents below the age of 18 in a bid to stem the tide of alcohol abuse.
Adeyeye explained that the producers of alcohol in sachets and small volumes agreed to reduce production by 50% with effect from January 31st, 2020 while ensuring that the products are completely phased out by January 31, 2024.
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