The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians regarding the circulation of an unregistered product, Fair Child Soap, in the country.
In a statement on Monday, NAFDAC disclosed that the unregistered imported cosmetic product was discovered during routine post-market surveillance in multiple retail outlets across Lagos.
“The soap is targeted at children and marketed with deceptive and misleading labelling. At a consultative meeting with the marketer (Lexmart Cosmetics Ltd), it was confirmed that the product is imported, with plans for local manufacturing.
“Due to this discovery, the company has been sanctioned and instructed to stop further distribution as the product is not authorised for distribution in Nigeria and does not fall under the scope of a validly registered product with NAFDAC,” the regulatory body stated.
It explained that the sale of unregistered products poses a public health risk, as they have not undergone evaluation for safety, quality, or effectiveness.
“As a result, there are no guarantees regarding their safety. Given the skin-lightening claims and the target demographic of children, there is a significant potential for serious health hazards, including skin damage or sensitivity, exposure to harmful or banned substances, and long-term dermatological effects,” the agency noted.
NAFDAC emphasised that the product is a skin-lightening soap marketed for children and urged healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion or sale of unregistered, substandard, and falsified products (medicines or medical devices) to its nearest office.
It added that reports can also be made by calling 0800-162-3322 or sending an email to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
