Reps call on NAFDAC to obey its resolution to lift ban on sachet alcohol

The House of Representatives, insists the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) must obey its resolution for the ban on sachet alcoholic beverages and pet bottles to be lifted.

Following protests by the distillers, the House of Representatives had on March 14, 2024, asked NAFDAC to lift the ban on the production of alcohol in sachets and pet bottles of less than 200ml.

But on Wednesday, the Chairman, House Committee on NAFDAC, Mrs Regina Akume held a news conference in Abuja and reiterated the need for NAFDAC to abide by the House resolution.

Akume said, “The economy is struggling; the unemployment rate is staggering, and the inflation rate is soaring. The poverty level is on the increase and there is a paucity of foreign exchange to do business”.

She said what NAFDAC should do is to enforce regulations and access control.

“NAFDAC should make it unlawful to send underaged people to purchase alcoholic beverages,” she said.

Gentechnews has earlier reported that The House ordered NAFDAC to lift the ban on sachet alcohol and pet bottle on March 14.

According to Akume, the ban should be lifted because the timing is inappropriate, The economy is struggling, the unemployment rate is staggering, and the inflation rate is soaring.

She added that the poverty level is on the increase with paucity of FOREX to do business.

She said instead of the ban it should be replaced with prescribed regulations and access control such as establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in LGAs across the country.

She said NAFDAC should make it unlawful to send under aged people to purchase alcoholic beverages, adding that there should be tighten of enforcement by law enforcement agencies.

She also advocated increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC, FCCPC, and others to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.

She said that the legislation approach should be adapted to encourage recycling of the materials for the promotion of the green economy.

She said this would go a long way in minimising importation of raw materials used in producing these pet bottles and sachets, thus conserving the Forex.

It would be recalled that the House had described that the ban runs counter to the spirit and letter of the Constitution and also against the Economic recovery Plan of the current administration.

This according to the house is sequel to  the numerous economic challenges confronting poor Nigerians.

The House stated that the ban on the production of the said beverages will cause job losses and more economic hardship.