Reps suspend NAFDAC’s ban on sachet alcoholics, pet bottles | The Guardian Nigeria News

The House of Representatives Committee on the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered the suspension of the ban imposed on the sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages in pet bags and bottles .

Chairman, House Committee on NAFDAC, Rep. Regina Akume, who stated this in Abuja after a public hearing on the NAFDAC ban, said the suspension was pending the outcome of her investigation into the matter. She said that there were adequate steps to be taken before the ban, stressing the need to put in place access control procedures.

This, according to her, was to prevent children and young people from consuming the alcoholic content of the sachet and pet bottles. She said the committee was entrusted with the essential responsibility and effectiveness of NAFDAC for job creation and enhancing economic growth.

He promised to reach a level playing field between NAFDAC and manufacturers that would not be detrimental to children or public safety.
Speaking earlier, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General, NAFDAC, said the ban was imposed to protect the health and welfare of children, youths and others.

She said: “We are trying to protect the market. That is why we agreed to a five-year moratorium for manufacturers to phase out alcohol and alcohol in pet bottles in December 2018.

According to her, it was a ministerial directive and not made unilaterally by NAFDAC, and the expiration of that five-year period has come.
She said that despite the agreement on the ban on alcohol sachets and pet bottles, it was shocking for NAFDAC that the campaign by the manufacturers was on the rise.

She said that many problems could be solved before now, adding that the agency was not against the production of alcohol, but alcohol in bags and bottles of animals to keep children away from unnecessary access.

“The WHO had a resolution in 2010 in which Nigeria was a co-singer that every country will have alcohol that is less accessible and less accessible to young people, and nothing has been done so far.

“It is very unfortunate that we are where we are now, because children who are used to taking alcohol will also become vulnerable to drug abuse.”
She said that because of the alcohol sachet, insecurity has been violated, adding that “30 percent of our children take alcohol casually.”

She, however, said that the market that had to be lost, as expressed by the manufacturer, would be about 30 percent because such could be easily hidden in the pocket.

Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi kadilimni, however, said there was no major disagreement with NAFDAC.

He added that they are committed to protecting young people and children from access to alcohol.

He said that they were the main ones, but the problem remained how to get there, saying: “We understand that there is a process to get there, and banning the product will be counterproductive.

According to him, this is because you have to open the market to the producers of illicit drugs, and these are people you cannot control.

“I believe that if we work together, we will be able to eradicate the access of minors. These bags are not produced for children, but for adults, and they have been warned not to consume them.

The Committee, however, moved for the suspension of NAFDAC’s ban pending the outcome of its investigation and duly adjourned its proceedings sine die.