Stakeholder Wants NAFDAC To Enforce Order On Bottling Firms

A business executive in Port
Harcourt, Mr Abel Orlu has expressed concern over the inability of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce its directive to bottling companies to resort to the use of plastic containers.
Orlu said that for about seven years now since the directive was given to bottling companies in Nigeria that bottles are still being used freely in the packaging of products, irrespective of its setbacks and limitations.
The business executive who is a dealer in beverages and drinks with branches spread within Port Harcourt and environs, said that the use of bottles in the packaging of products had given rise to contamination and dirts in the content.
He said that several reports were lodged at NAFDAC secretariat over dirts found in the bottled products as well as rusts discovered in the bottles which he said did not flow with the present day development and realities.
According to him, NAFDAC gave ultimatum to these companies in February 2007, for bottles to be replaced with plastics within one year period.
Ordu however, regretted that the NAFDAC ultimatum was not the only ultimatum or directive given by the Federal Government, especially, the 10 per cent use of cassava flour given to flour mills for use in their packaging, is yet to be fully implemented or enforced.
He also urged the NAFDAC and other government agencies to ensure that there is total enforcement on its directive so as to win public confidence.

Corlins Walter