NAFDAC Orders Recall, Destruction of Alcoholic Drinks in Sachets, Small PET Bottles

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered manufacturers of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and plastic bottles below 200ml to recall and destroy the affected products nationwide.

The directive followed the expiration of the transition period granted to manufacturers to comply with the Federal Government’s ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in the prohibited pack sizes.

NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the agency had commenced phased enforcement of the ban, beginning with manufacturers and extending to markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and distribution centres across the country.

The ban took effect on January 1, 2026, following concerns over the easy accessibility of high-alcohol-content beverages sold in small, inexpensive and easily concealed packages.

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Adeyeye directed manufacturers found violating the ban to immediately commence nationwide recalls and submit periodic reports to NAFDAC on their compliance.

She said all recalled products would be inventoried and destroyed under the supervision of the agency, with the manufacturers responsible for the cost of the exercise.

As part of the enforcement measures, affected manufacturers will also be required to sign irrevocable enforcement undertakings through the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE).

Adeyeye said any facility found producing the prohibited products would remain shut until NAFDAC confirms that the relevant production lines had been dismantled, permanently disabled or reconfigured.

She warned that manufacturers who fail to comply could face prolonged closure, placement on NAFDAC’s regulatory watchlist, suspension or revocation of product registrations, as well as other regulatory and legal sanctions.

“If you are a manufacturer of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles less than 200ml and we find your product in the market, you will be fined heavily,” Adeyeye said.

“And the manufacturing facility will be closed down permanently. We will use POCA, Proceeds of Crime Law, to deal with such manufacturing.”

The NAFDAC boss said industry associations had expressed their willingness to comply with the ban, noting that manufacturers had earlier proposed reconfiguring their production lines to enable them to transition to larger pack sizes.

Manufacturers were initially given a five-year moratorium under a December 2018 memorandum of understanding to reconfigure their production lines and move away from the prohibited packaging.

The deadline was subsequently extended to December 31, 2025, following further consultations with industry stakeholders.

NAFDAC said the enforcement is aimed at reducing young people’s access to high-alcohol-content products and curbing alcohol-related harm.

The agency also urged members of the public to report the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets or PET/plastic bottles below 200ml to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its official communication channels.