The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered manufacturers to recall and destroy all alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and plastic containers below 200ml nationwide.
Nationwide Recall Ordered for Small-Format Alcohol
These include factory closures and criminal prosecution.
According to NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye, affected companies must immediately pull prohibited drinks from distributors, warehouses, and the broader supply chain. Manufacturers must bear the full financial cost of the mop-up exercise. This includes inventory verification and supervised destruction.
The Roots of the 2018 Regulatory Ban
The enforcement action follows the expiration of a transition period granted to the industry. The policy traces back to 2018.
At that time, NAFDAC first raised concerns over the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content beverages in inexpensive, easily concealable small packs. These products remained readily accessible to minors.
To manage the transition, a five-year moratorium was agreed upon in December 2018. This gave manufacturers time to phase out the packaging sizes.
That deadline was later extended to December 31, 2025. The full regulatory ban officially took effect on January 1, 2026, covering alcoholic drinks in sachets, PET bottles below 200ml, and glass bottles below 200ml.
Phased enforcement began with manufacturers in January. It then expanded in July to nationwide sweeps across markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars, and distribution centers.
Industry Undertaking and Strict Compliance Rules
Ahead of the latest directive, industry bodies—including the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE)—signed an Irrevocable Enforcement Undertaking.
Under this agreement, companies must submit periodic compliance reports to NAFDAC. They must also ensure all recalled stock undergoes inventory verification before being destroyed under regulatory supervision.
Adeyeye stated that manufacturing facilities found producing the banned sizes will remain sealed. They will stay shut until operators dismantle, permanently disable, or reconfigure their affected production lines under direct NAFDAC oversight.
Reopening will depend on full compliance with the recall. Operators must also pay investigative charges and regulatory fees, successfully destroy the products, and secure final certification by the agency.
Severe Penalties and Public Reporting Channels
The agency warned that companies failing to meet the terms of the undertaking face severe regulatory penalties.
Consequences include prolonged facility closures, placement on NAFDAC’s Regulatory Watchlist, suspension or revocation of product registrations, and criminal prosecution. According to Adeyeye, violators risk heavy fines and potential legal action under the Proceeds of Crime Law.
NAFDAC has urged the public to report any continued manufacturing, distribution, or sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml.
Citizens can use the agency’s official communication channels or visit the nearest agency office as nationwide compliance verification continues.
