The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert regarding the illegal production and sale of an unregistered product, B-GAG Mist Pot CIT Syrup.
News About Nigeria reported that the notification was detailed in Public Notice No. 023/2024, released by the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in Abuja on Sunday.
The unregistered syrup is reportedly being sold by a company named Babban Gida Agalawa General Enterprises.
The product, which is packaged in a PET bottle, was discovered during a surveillance operation by NAFDAC’s Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate Officers in Maiduguri, Borno, and Keffi, Nasarawa States.
According to the statement, the B-GAG Mist Pot CIT Syrup lacks a NAFDAC registration number and features a misleading label, making it non-compliant with regulatory standards.
Prof. Adeyeye said that the illegal marketing of medicines, especially counterfeit ones, poses risk to public health.
Without proper regulatory compliance, the safety, quality, and efficacy of such products cannot be assured.
NAFDAC provided details of the fake product: batch number 0070, manufacturing date 01/02/2024, and expiration date 01/02/2027.
The manufacturer’s address was listed as No. 883/884 Western Bypass Ring Road, Kumbotso Local Government, Kano State.
To combat the distribution of the illegal product, NAFDAC Zonal Directors and State Coordinators have been instructed to conduct surveillance and remove the product from markets within their jurisdictions.
Prof. Adeyeye urged consumers and caregivers to avoid using the product and to only purchase medical products from authorised and licenced suppliers.
She advised that the authenticity and physical condition of products should be checked thoroughly before purchase.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to report any suspicions of the sale of substandard or falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office.
Adverse reactions can be reported to NAFDAC via the toll-free number 0800-162-3322 or email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
Prof. Adeyeye also promoted the use of NAFDAC’s e-reporting platforms for reporting adverse events or side effects related to medicinal products.
Reports can be submitted through the NAFDAC website, the Med-Safety application available on Android and iOS stores, or via email at pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng.
Additionally, she announced that the notice about the unregistered product will be uploaded to the World Health Organisation’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System to further alert the international community.
