NAFDAC slams N1bn fine on Guinness for ‘re-validating expired raw materials’

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has imposed a fine of N1 billion on Guinness Nigeria Plc for allegedly re-validating expired raw materials without approval.

Punch reports that NAFDAC also accused Guiness of maintaining poor documentation and not complying with some of its regulations.

The local unit of the company was given a 2-week ultimatum to pay the fine, the newspaper reported, quoting a letter written by the regulatory agency.

But the company, which said it was in talks with NAFDAC over the sanction, denied flouting the rules of the regulatory agency.

Reacting, Peter Ndegwa, managing director of Guinness Nigeria PLC, in a statement on Thursday said “As a responsible corporate organisation, we take these allegations which relate primarily to raw materials stored in one of our raw materials stores very seriously.

“We are engaging NAFDAC for clarifications and resolution of the issues.

“The high quality of products from Guinness Nigeria’s breweries has been attested to repeatedly not only by NAFDAC but also by the Standards Organization of Nigeria, as well as the internal quality controls of the Diageo Group.

“Basic raw materials are first converted during the brewing stage, with lots of critical control points, before products are bottled and released to the market.

“Each of these painstaking steps is rigorously monitored for conformity with all necessary global standards which we regard as basic, as we always aspire to exceed the much higher standards that have been set internally by the Diageo Group.”

Earlier before his statement, Guinness lamented the NAFDAC decision.

“The management of Guinness Nigeria does not fully understand the basis for the computation of the administrative charges nor the particular regulations alleged to have been infringed,” read a statement obtained by Punch.

“Guinness Nigeria is cognizant of its responsibility to adhere to relevant laws and regulations, which are applicable to its operations, including regulations issued by NAFDAC, and takes this obligation seriously.

“We remain committed to working with NAFDAC and other regulatory authorities in furtherance of our responsibility to produce and market quality products, which are enjoyed by consumers throughout Nigeria, and look forward to being able to resolve the issue working in partnership with NAFDAC.”

The development is coming less than a month after the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) imposed N1trillion fine on MTN, for failing to deactivate 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards.