The House of Representatives is initiating an investigation into the ban imposed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC on alcoholic beverages sold in sachets and small bottles.
This decision follows a motion put forward by Paschal Agbodike during Wednesday’s plenary session.
This move comes after NAFDAC’s announcement in January 2024, declaring a cessation of the registration of beverages packaged in small sachets and bottles.
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The investigation by the House of Representatives indicates a significant concern among lawmakers regarding the implications and rationale behind NAFDAC’s ban.
It suggests a desire to scrutinize the decision-making process and assess its potential impacts on various stakeholders, including consumers and businesses in the alcoholic beverage industry.
In his motion, the lawmaker said the “decision to ban the registration of beverages in small sachets and bottles runs counter to the spirit and letter of the Constitution and is against the Economic Recovery Plan of the current administration.”
He stated that the ban is contrary to the “sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)”.
But speaking against the motion, lawmaker Olamide Osoba said the ban is within the mandate of NAFDAC.
He said the agency is empowered to regulate food and drugs in the country and that the decision was in line with global best practices.
The House has however directed the Committee on NAFDAC to investigate the ban.