The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has ordered manufacturers, importers, and other stakeholders to withdraw consumer goods with misleading or incomplete labels.
FCCPC expressed concern over the increasing circulation, distribution, and sale of consumer goods that do not comply with prevailing standards and regulations governing product labelling.
In a public advisory signed by its management on Wednesday, the Commission explained that the order is pursuant to Sections 17(p), (w), (x), 114, 116, 123, and 125 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018.
“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,” the statement said.
The FCCPC stressed that the Act mandates the Commission 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) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), among others.
It noted that deceptive, incomplete, or misleading product labelling violates consumers’ right to access the information required to make informed purchasing decisions and may 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,” it warned.
The Commission advised consumers 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.
It emphasised that suspected cases of non-compliance should be reported promptly through the Commission’s official complaint channels.
The FCCPC assured that it would continue to strengthen nationwide market surveillance and enforcement activities in collaboration with relevant regulatory authorities to ensure compliance and enhance consumer protection.
