• NAFDAC DG, Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday gave the conditions for the reopening of sealed factories of alcoholic beverages manufacturers nationwide.

At a press briefing in Lagos, the agency’s Director – General, Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, also directed the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), and their member companies who have not comply with the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET (plastic) bottles below 200ml to do so.

“Affected manufacturers are required to immediately commence a nationwide recall of all alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml from distributors, warehouses, and other points within the supply chain and submit to the agency for destruction,” she said.

Emphasising on reopening sealed factories, she said: ” NAFDAC imposed investigative charges on defaulting companies found to have violated regulatory directives relating to the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages in prohibited package sizes.

The affected companies are required to settle the applicable charges within the stipulated period and comply fully with all regulatory directives issued by the Agency.

The Agency wishes to emphasize that all recalled alcoholic products shall be subjected to inventory verification and destruction under NAFDAC supervision in accordance with the terms of the enforcement undertaking. Manufacturers shall bear the full cost of such destruction exercises.

Furthermore, before any sealed facility involved in the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets or PET bottles below 200ml can be reopened, NAFDAC will require satisfactory evidence that the production lines used for the prohibited package sizes have been dismantled, permanently disabled, or reconfigured to prevent the manufacture and packaging of alcoholic products in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml.

Such dismantling or reconfiguration shall be carried out under the direct supervision and verification of NAFDAC officers.

The reopening and continued opening of any facility shall be subject to:Full compliance with the nationwide recall directive. Payment of all applicable investigative charges and regulatory fees.Successful destruction of recalled products under NAFDAC supervision. Verification of the dismantling, reconfiguration, or decommissioning of equipment used for prohibited package sizes.Satisfactory inspection and certification by NAFDAC that the facility is compliant with all regulatory requirements.”