ARCON, NAFDAC, FCCPC warn bakers on deceptive bread label advertisements.

ARCON, NAFDAC, FCCPC warn bakers on deceptive bread label advertisements.

 Ogunseye Yusuf Olawale

Regulators have called on bakery and confectionery operators in Nigeria to refrain from deceptive bread label advertisements and to ensure quality management and regulatory compliance in the bakery and confectionery sector to protect public health and curb illegal practices.

The Executive Vice-Chairman of The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), South-West Zonal Coordinator Mr. Olubunmi Otti, reinforced a warning recently in Lagos State during a stakeholder informational meeting on “Building Consumer Trust Through Quality and Safety: A Regulatory Compliance Mandate for Industry Operators”. Mr Tunji Bello, represented  the South-West Zonal Coordinator, Mr Olubunmi Otti, at the event.

Equally speaking, Director-General Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, has signaled a zero-tolerance policy against misleading product claims, unvetted advertisements, and deceptive practices across all media targeted at the Nigerian market in line with ARCON Act No. 23 of 2022.

Nigerian courts have affirmed that ARCON has the legal mandate under the ARCON Act 23 of 2022 to vet advertising content and commercial messaging.

 While general product label information falls primarily under agencies like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),  or the FCCPC for consumer safety, any promotional or marketing claims exceeding standard regulatory descriptions on packaging targeted at the Nigerian market  as an advertisement remain subject to advert vetting through the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) under the aegis of ARCON.