Reps ask NAFDAC to lift ban on alcohol in sachets, pet bottles

The house of representatives has asked the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to lift the ban on the production of alcohol in sachets and pet bottles of less than 200ml.

The green chamber passed the resolution during the plenary session on Thursday following the consideration and adoption of a report by the committee on NAFDAC.

In February, NAFDAC announced a ban on the production of alcohol in sachets and pet bottles of less than 200ml.

The agency said it was committed to ensuring that goods sold to Nigerians are safe for consumption.

The green chamber said the ban should be suspended because the “timing is inappropriate given the fact that the economy is struggling, unemployment rate is staggering, and inflation rate is soaring while the poverty level is on the increase with paucity of forex to do business”.

The lawmakers asked NAFDAC to replace the ban with the establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in local government areas across the country and make it unlawful to send underage persons to purchase alcoholic beverages.

The parliament also demanded increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC, Federal Competition and Protection Commission (FCCPC), and other agencies to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.

The lawmakers said producers “should expose the dangers associated with the abuse of alcohol sachet products by boldly inscribing and enumerating the danger on the packs, as obtained in the case of tobacco”.

“Government regulatory bodies should place more emphasis on regulation, monitoring and enlightenment campaign to educate stakeholders and the general public on the dangers of underaged consumption of alcohol and its sales in motor parks,” the house said.

“Enlightenment campaign should be carried out in secondary schools across the country, as practised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to educate students on dangers and vices associated with the abuse of alcohol.

“Parents, religious bodies and non-governmental organisation (NGOs) should be tasked to counsel their children or ward, especially the underaged on the danger of alcohol consumption.”

The house said regulatory mechanisms should be strengthened to ensure enforcement and compliance and encourage legislation promoting recycling materials for a green economy and minimising importation of raw materials used in producing pet bottles and sachets to conserve foreign exchange.