NAFDAC Moves Against ‘Pure Water’ Sellers

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC) and Association of Table Water Producers ( ATWAP) have begun measures to rid Rivers of illegal manufacturers of sachet water.

The South-South Zonal office of NAFDAC said in a statement in Port Harcourt on Thursday that the team had shut eight unregistered sachet water producing outlets in the state.

The statement, signed by Mr. Cyril Monye, the NAFDAC Public Relations Officer, said the team also seized seven automated sachet water packaging machines.

The statement credited  the Assistant Director and Rivers State Coordinator of NAFDAC , Mr. Bolakale Ayinde, as explaining that the exercise was part of efforts by the agency to rid the state of fake water products.

“This exercise is to sanitise the sachet water industry and to ensure that only registered producers with Good Manufacturing Practice ( GMP) are allowed to operate, “ Ayinde noted.

The Chairman of ATWAP in Rivers, Mr. Alex Erokosima, expressed dissatisfaction with the illegal operation of sachet water producers, “who are bent on portraying table water producers in bad light.

“ATWAP is partnering with NAFDAC to totally eliminate the incidence of fake and unwholesome sachet water in Rivers State, it is a continuous exercise that will cover the whole state, “ Erokosima said.

The statement mentioned some sachet water brands and their fake NAFDAC numbers as as Godwisdom 01-39041, Otons 01-85781, Potters 01-81561, Real 01-401611,as well as SoLac and Pacilie both without NAFDAC numbers.

The statement noted that the team also arrested some registered producers, who were operating under very poor “ Good Manufacturing Practice, ( GMP)” conditions.

Ayinde, however, warned illegal and recalcitrant sachet water producers to desist from their actions and warned that NAFDAC would do all it could to rid the state of illegal producers, the statement added.