The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has sealed-off 16 sachet water factories in Rivers State for engaging in unwholesome practices.
The factories are located in Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru, Degema and Ikwerre local government areas of the state.
NAFDAC South-South zonal director, Pharmacist Chukwuma Oligbu, disclosed this while briefing journalists after a clampdown on sachet water factories in the four LGAs.
The owners of the sealed sachet water factories have been invited to visit the zonal office of the agency in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
“The sachet water included Obra Bo Table Water, Abalama, Asari-Toru LGA, Loilia Table Water, Okpo, Degema LGA, Jima Table Water, Obuama (Harry’s Town), Degema LGA and Inye Table Water, Obuama (Harry’s Town) Degema LGA.
“Others are Obuta Table Water, Obuama (Harry’s Town) Degema LGA, Soaltam Table Water, Obuama (Harry’s Town) Degema LGA and Picasso Table Water, Usokun, Degema LGA.
“Also shut down are: Imumsco Table Water, Port Harcourt-Degema Road, Degema LGA, Grampa Table Water, Abonnema, Akuku-Toru LGA, Daa Ajuka Table Water, Abonnema, Akuku-Toru LGA and Diob Table Water, Abonnema, Akuku-Toru LGA.
“At Ikwerre LGA, four factories were shut down, they include; Aqua-Tobson Table Water, Duco Table Water, Chisodek Table Water and Neo Brain Table Water,” he said.
The NAFDAC zonal director listed the violation of the affected sachet water factories to include operating under poor hygienic conditions, dirty filters, use of handkerchief as filters, expired licenses, labelling lapses and wrong factory addresses.
Oligbu warned producers of sachet water to stop producing unregistered packaged water and those with expired licences to initiate renewal of be prepared to face the wrath of the law.
“The violation of the sachet water factories include; operating under poor hygienic conditions, dirty filters, use of handerchief as filters, expired licences, labelling lapses and wrong factory address,” he said.
The NAFDAC boss warned against siting of factories in a filling station which is against NAFDAC regulations, stressing that the agency will permanently shut down such factories.
He noted that it is against the he law that established the agency for producers to obstruct NAFDAC officials from carrying out their lawful duties and those that indulge in such act risk arrest and prosecution.
