CPC vows to enforce NAFDAC’s Codeine ban

By Miriam Humbe

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC), has vowed to deploy its entire apparatus and resources to support theNational Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Ministry of Health, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and other relevant agencies to enforce the ban onthe production and distribution of Codeine and prevent access to it (codeine) and similar addictive substances.
A statement signed by the Council’s Director General, Babatunde Irukera said that pursuant to Sections 2 (c), (e) (j) and 14, Consumer Protection Council Act, 2004, the Council welcomes all meaningful efforts to address the rising and alarming, abusive consumption of controlled substances.
On April 10, 2018, the Council issued an Advisory that publicly called for a ban and prohibition on the prescription of cough medication containing Codeine, even as NAFDAC has heightened the proposed regulatory measure by an outright ban is commendable.
Iruekera said that protecting citizens’ addiction and the harm done by abuse of controlled substances must remain a priority always, to the exclusion and sometimes at the expense of commercial considerations.
CPC further advocated and encouraged a strong and zero tolerance approach to access distribution or proliferation of these substances or any combination of chemical properties that have similar effect while also ensuring that production and availability of legitimate medication remain inviolate and uncompromised.