The Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to impose stiffer penalties on manufacturers, traffickers and hawkers of fake and counterfeit pharmaceutical products, including a proposed 15-year jail term for offenders.
The proposed legislation, titled A Bill for an Act to Amend the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, CAP C.34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, also seeks to prohibit the use of toxic substances to hasten the natural ripening of fruits and review existing penalties for hawking drugs and food products.
Sponsored by Senator Suleiman Umar Sadiq, representing Kwara North Senatorial District, the bill aims to strengthen the existing legal framework and update the law to address emerging methods used in the production and distribution of fake pharmaceuticals and other consumables.
Leading the debate, Sadiq said advances in technology had enabled offenders to manufacture, market and distribute counterfeit products through new channels, including social media, making enforcement more difficult for regulatory agencies.
He noted that the current law, enacted more than two decades ago, no longer reflects present realities, stressing the need for stronger sanctions and improved regulatory measures to protect public health.
The bill proposes prison terms of up to 15 years for offences involving the manufacture, sale and trafficking of fake pharmaceutical products and other consumables. It also prescribes fines running into millions of naira, particularly in cases where victims die as a result of consuming counterfeit products.
During the debate, senators expressed concern over the growing incidence of kidney infections, liver diseases and other organ related illnesses linked to the consumption of fake drugs and unwholesome foods.
The lawmakers also said the amendment would strengthen the enforcement capacity of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, while cautioning against creating provisions that could duplicate the agency’s statutory responsibilities.
The Senate said stakeholders, including NAFDAC, would be invited to a public hearing to provide input and address possible areas of conflict before the bill proceeds to the next legislative stage.
