NAFDAC tests 13 paracetamol brands in Nigeria, says stipulated dosage standards met

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says paracetamol brands in the country meet the stipulated dosage standards.

A now retracted 2023 study had claimed that most paracetamol brands in Nigeria were found to be under-dosed after testing.

NAFDAC had faulted the study but said it would carry out a comprehensive testing of paracetamol tablets, to investigate the claims.

Briefing journalists on the outcome of the tests on Monday, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC director-general, said paracetamol tablets from 13 different local manufacturers were sampled from Lagos and Abuja pharmacy outlets.

She said a minimum of 20 tablets from each manufacturer were used for the assay analysis by regulatory officers with verifiable analytical skills using the British pharmacopoeia monograph 2023 edition.

“We assured the public that we will publish the result of our own investigation of the paracetamol tablets in Nigeria immediately we conclude testing in the agency’s WHO pre-qualified laboratory,” Adeyeye said.

“The result of our test clearly showed that all the 20 tablets from each manufacturer met the stipulated dosage standards and specification.

“This includes adherence to both national and international regulatory requirements.

“This is a 100 percent pass rate for the full compendia tests result for the 20 samples of paracetamol tablets tested.

“The assay results clearly contradict the results of the published report circulated on social media and we fault this grim publication in totality.”

The NAFDAC DG added that parameters, including uniformity of mass, average weight, friability, hardness, identification and disintegration time that were not part of the subject in question were also tested.

“This publication that has now been retracted is a disservice to the pharmaceutical industry and the nation,” she said.

“The mischief of placing the article in the social media on the background of World Health Organisation logo is highly distasteful and illegal.

“NAFDAC emphasises the importance of evidence-based information to guide public discourse and urges stakeholders to rely on and check for accurate and comprehensive data.”