Sachet Alcohol: NAFDAC Threatens Permanent Shutdown, Asset Confiscation For Defaulting Manufacturers | Sahara Reporters

The warning followed a statement issued by NAFDAC on Monday, August 24, reaffirming that full enforcement of the ban, which took effect on January 1, 2026, was underway following the expiration of the industry’s transition period.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned manufacturers of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/plastic bottles below 200ml that they risk permanent closure and asset confiscation if they violate the Federal Government’s ban.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, issued the warning as the agency intensified enforcement of the prohibition nationwide.

The warning followed a statement issued by NAFDAC on Monday, August 24, reaffirming that full enforcement of the ban, which took effect on January 1, 2026, was underway following the expiration of the industry’s transition period.

Speaking in a video shared on NAFDAC’s official X account on Tuesday, Adeyeye said manufacturers found producing or distributing the prohibited products would face severe sanctions.

“If you are a manufacturer of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles less than 200 ml and we find your product in the market, you will be fined heavily aside from what you are doing right now and the manufacturing facility will be closed down permanently,” she said.

“We will use POCA, Proceeds of Crime Law, to deal with such manufacturing.”

Adeyeye said the threat of permanent closure was intended to serve as a strong deterrent and urged manufacturers to comply with the prohibition.

“They are seeing that deterrent is working, and the highest deterrent is complete shutdown of the companies. NAFDAC is backed by that law,” she said.

She added that the potential impact on jobs had been anticipated since the policy was first introduced and that many manufacturers had already begun reconfiguring their production lines.

“In terms of job loss, this was sounded since 2018 and many manufacturers now are thinking, they were the one who suggested a reconfiguration of their lines,” she said.

“So they are thinking compliance. But if anybody doesn’t comply, we will visit that company rather with the law that is appropriate.”

Recall, Destruction Of Banned Products
According to NAFDAC’s Monday statement, manufacturers found violating the ban are 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).

The affected manufacturers are also required to immediately recall prohibited products from warehouses, distributors and retail outlets nationwide.

NAFDAC said the recalled products would be inventoried and destroyed under its supervision, with the manufacturers bearing the cost.

Before a facility shut down for violating the ban can reopen, NAFDAC said it must verify that production lines used for the prohibited pack sizes have been dismantled, permanently disabled or reconfigured to produce permitted sizes.

Defaulting companies may also face continued closure, suspension or revocation of product registrations, placement on NAFDAC’s Regulatory Watchlist, investigative charges and other regulatory or legal sanctions.

The agency said manufacturers were also required to submit periodic compliance reports and settle applicable regulatory fines within stipulated timelines.

Ban Dates Back To 2018
The prohibition followed concerns first raised in 2018 over the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content beverages in small, inexpensive and easily concealed packages.

NAFDAC said the policy was aimed particularly at reducing access to such products among children and young people and curbing alcohol-related harm.

A five-year moratorium was initially established under a December 2018 Memorandum of Understanding to give manufacturers time to reconfigure their production lines and transition to larger pack sizes.

Following further consultations with industry stakeholders, the deadline was extended to December 31, 2025, after which the ban took effect on January 1, 2026.

NAFDAC subsequently began phased enforcement, moving from manufacturers to nationwide operations targeting markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and distribution centres.

The agency said it had consulted extensively with government agencies and industry stakeholders, including DIBAN and AFBTE, before commencing full enforcement.

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