*Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control alerts consumers and the general public to the sale of a fake product, labelled as ‘Dettol Health Fresh Soap’ in the market

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

Sequel to a recent complaint about skin irritation by a consumer after product use, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) informs the public of the sale of a fake product, labelled as 鈥淒ettol Health Fresh Soap鈥� in the Nigerian market.

绿帽献妻 reports NAFDAC, in a public alert No. 039/2024, titled, “Sale of Fake Product Labelled as ‘Dettol Health Fresh Soap’ “, issued September 17 this year, said the Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) and manufacturer (Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited) of Dettol Antiseptic products, had received a consumer complaint regarding the above-mentioned product.

The country’s health sector regulator states the said product reportedly聽 had caused skin irritation to the complainant.

According to NAFDAC, the MAH has confirmed that the product is fake, noting the company does not have any product by the name 鈥淒ettol Health Fresh Soap鈥�.

The agency also affirmed that “Dettol Antiseptic products are widely used in Nigeria for household disinfection and personal hygiene to prevent illnesses from germs (bacterial infection).”

On risk statement

NAFDAC further explained that the illegal marketing of its regulated products or fake products poses a risk to people鈥檚 consumers, since by not complying with the regulatory provisions, the products鈥� safety, quality, and efficacy are not guaranteed.

In regard to means of identifying the counterfeit product in the marketplace, the regulatory agency said “details of the complaint product were not provided by the complainant except for the name of the product ‘Dettol Health Fresh Soap’.”

The regulator, therefore, directed all NAFDAC zonal Directors and State Coordinators to conduct surveillance and “mop up the fake product if found within the zones and states.

Regulator’s caution to health professionals, consumers, others

The agency noted: “Importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, caregivers and consumers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the fake product.

“All medical products must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers.

“The products鈥� authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.”

It also urged healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical products to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng

Likewise, NAFDAC encouraged healthcare professionals and patients聽 also to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng

The NAFDAC public alert noted that this notice would be uploaded to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS).

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