NAFDAC alerts consumers to fake hand sanitisers in circulation

*Unregistered sanitisers containing toxic substances harmful to health

*Substantial methanol exposure could cause headaches, permanent blindness, vomiting, seizures, nausea

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

For the umpteenth time since the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has warned consumers to avoid unregistered hand sanitisers containing toxic substances that could be harmful to their welfare.

Mr Nasiru Mato, the NAFDAC Coordinator in Borno State, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Saturday, July 11, in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Mato stated that some of the unregistered hand sanitisers might contain a substance called methanol that could be toxic if absorbed through the skin or ingested.

Substantial methanol exposure could lead to headaches, permanent blindness, vomiting, seizures and nausea, said Borno State NAFDAC Coordinator.

“Consumers of regulated products in Borno have once again been urged to always look out and patronise only hand sanitisers registered by NAFDAC for their safety.

“Any regulated product which does not have NAFDAC registration number, expiry date, name and full location address of manufacturer, manufacture date, and Batch number, is deemed unsafe for use as the safety and efficacy of such product can’t be guaranteed,” Mato stated.

He further disclosed that NAFDAC had registered a number of hand sanitisers during the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the need of the current reality in the country.

While urging intending manufacturers of regulated products to go to NAFDAC offices to get the necessary guidelines for registration of their products, he warned that serious sanctions would be meted out to any manufacturer who flouts NAFDAC Laws.