In a fresh report, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced that it has received some safety information from the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous, toxic non-food products (RAPEX), that a particular cosmetic product, Placentyne Hair Lotion has been flagged on a red alert and banned.
The information about this ban was particularly carried in a public alert with No. 0033/2022, signed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, which was issued to NAN on Saturday in Abuja.
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According to the alert, the product which has been analysed to contain a mixture of preservatives, Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone, which are forbidden in leave-on cosmetics.
The statement disclosed that the product is sold in a 12 ampoules x 10ml cardboard box which was manufactured by an Italian company, Linea Italiana di Benazzi Anna & SAS, with a barcode No. 8029550000126. It added that Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone are common preservatives which are found in many personal care products, which have been linked to lung toxicity, allergic reactions and possible neurotoxicity.
The statement added, “Both chemicals inhibit bacterial growth in cosmetic products on their own, but they’re most commonly used as a mixture in products.
“Members of the public in possession of the recalled lots of the product are implored to discontinue sale or use and hand over stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.”
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had also been previously implored by the House of Representatives to monitor the conduct of online drug advertisers and sellers in Nigeria. This emerged after Rep. Onofiok Luke (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) proposed a motion in Abuja on Tuesday.
Luke, who introduced the motion, asserted that there was a need to regulate online advertisers and drug sellers because they were delivering marketing messages to an undisclosed and intended audience.
According to Luke, this was intended to persuade the targeted customers to take a specific action, such as purchasing a product.
He added that because it was cost-effective and easy to reach people, digital advertising had become progressively essential to business proprietors and service providers around the globe
Online vendors had harnessed of unrestricted internet access and social media platforms to advertise and sell unauthorized and sometimes phoney pharmaceuticals to naïve members of the public, according to the Rep.