The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, stepped into the controversy surrounding the ban imposed on the production of beverages in sachets and small bottles by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
The latter had on Monday said it would begin the enforcement of its ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below.
This, is to the displeasure of Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria whose members staged a protest at the Lagos office of NAFDAC on Tuesday.
Same thing with Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees who are also crying foul.
They all argued that the move by NAFDAC would cause them both financial and job losses.
The situation has drawn the reaction of the House of Representatives.
The latter directed its committee on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to look in to it after Hon. Paschal Agbese tabled the issue during Tuesday’s plenary.
Leading the debate on Wednesday, Agbbodike said Section 88(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution empowered the National Assembly to conduct to look into such an issue, given its potential impact on the economy.
He said, “NAFDAC had announced its decision to stop the registration of beverages in small sachets and bottles in January 2024 while the Director General of the agency informed the public that the agency would ensure that the validity of renewal of already registered products would not exceed January 2024.
“The decision to ban the registration of beverages in small sachets and bottles runs counter to the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and runs against the Economic Recovery Plan of the current administration.”
