BY NKECHI BAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), on Wednesday directed manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers to immediately withdraw all non-compliant consumer products from the market or face severe enforcement action.

According  to statements issued today,  that market surveillance and routine inspections exposed an influx of goods lacking basic, mandatory consumer information.

The statement reads:”The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has observed with serious concern the increasing circulation, distribution, and sale of consumer goods that do not comply with prevailing standards and regulations governing product labelling. Market surveillance, routine inspections, and quality assurance activities have revealed products bearing misleading or deceptive information, as well as products without production dates, expiry or best-before dates, batch numbers, manufacturer details, ingredient lists, allergen information, country of origin, and other mandatory labelling information.

“As empowered by the Act, the Commission is mandated to promote consumer safety by ensuring strict adherence to labelling requirements in line with applicable standards set by competent regulatory authorities, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), among others.

The statement added that “Deceptive, incomplete, or misleading product labelling violates consumers’ right to the information required to make informed purchasing decisions andmay expose them to significant health, safety, and economic risks.

Accordingly, the Commission directs all manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers to immediately review their inventories and withdraw from sale any consumer goods that do not comply with applicable labelling requirements. Businesses that continue to distribute or sell non-compliant products risk appropriate regulatory enforcement action.

“In light of the foregoing, consumers are advised to carefully examine product labels before purchase and avoid products with missing, illegible, altered, misrepresented, or poor-quality labels, as well as those bearing false claims or misleading information. “

“Suspected cases of non-compliance should be reported promptly through the Commission’s official complaint channels.”

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