NAFDAC awaits further directive on enforcement of ban of sachet alcohol…Describes statement in the Media of removal of ban on codeine as False.

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has responded to publications in some national newspapers, broadcast and social media on the ban on alcohol sold in sachet or in less than 200ml PET Bottle, saying the agency is awaiting the the responses of the Coordinating Ministers of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate and that of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa on the next line of action.

The Director – General NAFDAC, Professor Christiana Adeyeye, who dropped the message at a news briefing today 19,June 2024,  said, the leadership of the National Assembly, promised to continue the discussion  in July after the House returns from recess.

She narrates, ”  On February 1, 2024, NAFDAC started the enforcement of a ban on alcohol sold in sachet or in less than 200ml PET Bottle, after a five -year moratorium that the then Honourable Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Folorunsho Adewole gave the manufacturers to phase out the two package types “.

” This moratorium document was signed in December 2018 by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and the Association of Food Beverage & Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) with Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) she explains

Noting  that, Soon after the enforcement of the ban, which came five years after all parties had signed the agreement on the moratorium, the House Committee on Food and Drug Administration advised that the Agency should suspend the ban. It was made known at the time, however, that the Agency would have to await a decision by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on the matter since the Agency was essentially enforcing a ministerial document”.

Following the meeting, ” I reported the above outcome from the meeting to both the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate and the Coordinating Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa “. She stated

BAN ON CODEINE :

And on the ban on codeine, the NAFDAC boss said the agency has not reneged its decision on the ban of codeine in pediatric syrup and described as false and inaccurate, the statement in the News Media that another Minister removed the ban.

According to her,  ” On May 1st, 2018, the then Minister of Health Prof Isaac Folorunsho Adewole placed a ban on codeine syrup because of a documentary by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on poor distribution and abuse.

Professor Adeyeye says, ” Codeine-containing syrup remain banned since that time, pointing out that, ” the Federal Government compensated the manufacturers of the syrup that did not abuse the distribution. NAFDAC has never discussed the removal of the ban “.

Juliana Ekong