NAFDAC launches nationwide raid of bleaching outlets

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has embarked on raids of bleaching outlets in the six geo-political zones of the country.

According to the Director-General(DG) of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, bleaching products held no health benefits and as such needed to be purged out from society. 

Adeyeye disclosed this on Wednesday, April 26th, during the North East Zonal Media Sensitisation Workshop on the Dangers of Bleaching Creams and Regulatory Control, in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The DG who was represented by the Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, said: “We are taking stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of rampant and pervasive cases of using bleaching creams.

“We immediately took some decisive steps such as the sensitisation of the public through different media outlets,” including enforcement through intelligence and raids at trade fairs, markets and shops.

The raids, NAFDAC added, have resulted in large seizures and destruction of unauthorised products.

“This is a deliberate strategy of mobilising, educating and sensitising stakeholders and the general public,” she said, challenging journalists to play their roles in eradicating the menace of bleaching creams.

Her words: “A lot of scarce resources are being wasted on the illegal production, importation and use of the various bleaching creams.

“Today’s workshop is a training the trainers’ programme where 60 journalists will be in the vanguard of campaigns against bleaching creams.”

She, therefore, assured that NAFDAC would constantly engage the media, as it strives to extend the positive impact of raids to the grassroots.

NAFDAC noted the dangers of bleaching creams including cancer, damage to vital organs, skin irritation and allergies.