The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has instructed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to lift the prohibition on the importation, production, and sale of small-sized sachet alcoholic beverages.
Earlier, NAFDAC had announced on February 1 its enforcement of the ban on the importation, production, distribution, sale, and usage of alcoholic drinks in sachets, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), and glass bottles of 200ml and smaller.
In January 2022, the agency halted the registration of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small-volume PET and glass bottles under 200ml.
This decision stemmed from a recommendation made by a joint committee comprising the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and industry representatives, including the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, back in December 2018.
Following the committee’s decision, producers of sachet and small-volume alcohol agreed to reduce production by five percent starting from January 31, 2022, and to completely phase out the products in Nigeria by January 31, 2024.
In response, the TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, issued a 14-day ultimatum during a protest at NAFDAC headquarters in Abuja, demanding the reversal of the ban. He expressed concerns about prioritizing the regulation of working people over criminal elements like Boko Haram and kidnappers.
Toro said, “I do not know what NAFDAC prefers, is it Boko haram or kidnappers working the street rather than working people that are coordinated?
Toro emphasized that the protest was peaceful but warned of further action if their demands were not met, including mobilizing affiliates to shut down NAFDAC offices nationwide within the given timeframe.