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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed three manufacturing facilities in Ogun State for allegedly producing banned sachet alcoholic beverages and alcoholic drinks packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles below the approved 200-millilitre threshold.
The enforcement action forms part of the agency’s ongoing nationwide crackdown on the production, distribution and sale of prohibited alcoholic beverages, following the expiration of the compliance window granted to manufacturers.
Intelligence-Led Operation
According to NAFDAC, the operation was carried out after intelligence reports indicated that some manufacturers had resumed the production of products prohibited under the Federal Government’s alcohol packaging regulations.
The agency said its enforcement team discovered that the affected companies were allegedly producing alcoholic drinks in sachets and sub-200ml PET containers in violation of existing directives aimed at curbing the abuse of alcohol, particularly among young people.
Factories Sealed During Enforcement
The affected facilities include Intercontinental Distilleries Limited, J-One World Limited, and Imperial Beverages Limited, all located in Ogun State.
NAFDAC disclosed that the premises were sealed after inspectors uncovered evidence of ongoing production activities involving the prohibited product categories. During the exercise, officials also reported that some items previously documented during an earlier inspection were no longer on-site, a development the agency described as a serious regulatory violation that would attract further administrative action.
Agency Reaffirms Commitment to Public Health
Speaking during the enforcement exercise, NAFDAC reiterated that the nationwide operation is intended to safeguard public health by enforcing regulations designed to limit access to cheap, highly portable alcoholic beverages that are often linked to underage drinking and alcohol abuse.
The regulator maintained that manufacturers had been given ample time to comply with the policy before enforcement commenced, stressing that operators who continue to disregard the directive would face sanctions in line with the law.
Nationwide Crackdown Continues
The latest enforcement follows NAFDAC’s recent launch of a nationwide mop-up operation targeting alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml. The agency said the exercise is aimed at removing non-compliant products from circulation across the country while ensuring full compliance with the Federal Government’s directive.
Industry Faces Tougher Compliance Measures
The sealing of the three factories signals a tougher regulatory stance by NAFDAC as it intensifies monitoring of alcohol manufacturers nationwide.
Industry stakeholders are expected to closely monitor the enforcement campaign, which could have significant implications for manufacturers, distributors and retailers operating within Nigeria’s alcoholic beverage market. Meanwhile, the agency has urged all operators to comply fully with the approved packaging standards to avoid regulatory sanctions and possible closure of their facilities.
