NAFDAC fine: Guinness denies any wrongdoing

Company Secretary and Director of Corporate Relations in Guinness Nigeria Plc, Sesan Sobowale has denied that the company used expired raw materials as claimed by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

Recall that the regulatory agency recently slammed a fine of N1 billion on Guinness for re-validating some products without approval.

But exchanging views with journalists in Lagos on Friday, Sobowale maintained that his company usually destroys its expired materials, adding that Guinness got relevant papers from the Ado-Odo local government in Ogun state on disposal of the expired raw materials in question.

Sobowale explained that extension had already been given on the ‘best before date’ of the malt extract, which is currently generating controversy. He said his company usually considers due process when destroying expired raw materials.

The Guinness Secretary claimed that the warehouse which NAFDAC visited was fumigated on October 25 – a day before the inspection. He added that the company, upon receiving a letter from NAFDAC, replied the agency with the documents seeking approval on the extension of ‘best before date’. Other papers presented included the certificate on the pest control treatment from a company called AC Fumen International and the FSSC 2200 ISO certificate.

On his part, Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria, Peter Ndegwa said the company “would not compromise on the highest standards of quality, which were in line with globally-accepted code of  manufacturing practice”. He said those standards had also been so-certified by NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON.

Ndegwa said the company believes more in its reputation than the financial benefits it gained from the sale of
its products.