BREAKING!! Nigerian Senate Moves To Stop Importation of Bleaching Cream, Others

BREAKING!! Nigerian Senate Moves To Stop Importation of Bleaching Cream, Others

NAFDAC was targeted within Nigeria to control the importation, formulation and selling of cosmetics.

On Tuesday, 16 February 2021, Nigerian senators passed a resolution to ensure the control of the formulation and distribution of cosmetics, in particular bleaching cream.

During the plenary session, Senator Remi Tinubu raised a motion to advise the National Food and Drug Administration and Control Agency (NAFDAC) to wake up to its duty to protect Nigerians from toxic cosmetics.

She expressed concern about the proliferation of small and medium-sized enterprises and firms that have flooded the Nigerian market with beauty products that are not well-regulated in their production.

The senator expressed concern that skin lightening items do not specify ingredients or expiry dates to notify consumers of their content.

“The Senate is concerned that in the formulation of these products it is impossible to determine that hygiene, quality assurance and good production practices are adhered to,” she said.

The legislator noted that there could be adverse side effects of cosmetic products and cautioned that the market is controlled to protect Nigerians.

Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, while seconding the motion, claimed that bleaching cream is particularly harmful to the skin and should be controlled to ensure the safety of Nigerian consumers.

He said that the relevant regulatory agency should also control the advertisers of the products because customers are likely to believe what they see.

Senator Barau Jibrin said Nigerians may be harmed by inappropriate manufacturing of the goods, and NAFDAC must ensure that what they do is up to par.

The full weight of the law must be brought to bear on anyone who refuse to comply with the existing regulations. We must make sure we are safeguarding our people,’ he said.

Lawmakers have voted to require the Senate Health Committee to review the processes in place to certify the quality and protection of cosmetics, and to recommend transparency for the future.

NAFDAC was also directed to control the importation, formulation and selling of cosmetics within Nigeria, and to maintain a database of products, indicating the name and address of the manufacturers and the list of ingredients.

The organization was also directed to begin a program of sensitization and recognition of the ills of hazardous substances, and to collaborate with the Federal Council for Competition and Consumer Protection (FCCPC) to ensure that consumer injury is monitored.

BREAKING!! Nigerian Senate Moves To Stop Importation of Bleaching Cream, Others