The German parent company of Nivea responds to NAFDAC’s ban, clarifying its position on product safety and regulatory compliance in Nigeria.
Following the ban on Nivea Black & White Invisible roll-on deodorant by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Beiersdorf, the German multinational company that owns Nivea, explained that this product was phased out in 2022 and is no longer sold or promoted in Nigeria.
NAFDAC recently issued a warning against using Nivea Black & White Invisible Body Deodorant after it was recalled in Europe due to the presence of chemicals considered unsafe for use in cosmetics.
In a statement, Beiersdorf responded to the NAFDAC advisory by pointing out that Europe has banned the flagged chemical 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde (BMHCA) from cosmetic products following recent regulatory updates.
According to the statement, a recalled Nivea product contains 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA), which is banned in cosmetic products because it can harm the reproductive system, negatively affect an unborn child’s health, and cause skin irritation and burns.
The company stated that 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (LilialTM) was withdrawn from European markets on March 1, 2022, in compliance with current legislation. Beiersdorf highlighted that Batch No. 93529610, flagged by NAFDAC, was never available for sale in Nigeria and had expired in January 2022 when it still met the cosmetic standards valid at the time in Europe.
We want to assure our valued customers that Batch No. 93529610 has not been sold in Nigeria and was never recalled by Beiersdorf, the legal manufacturer of the NIVEA brand. In fact, this batch expired in January 2022 and fully complied with European cosmetic regulations at that time.
The company further emphasized its dedication to global safety standards, highlighting that its products undergo rigorous quality checks to comply with regulatory guidelines.
The company stated, “We have reformulated our entire NIVEA product line to remove Lilial well before the EU regulation took effect.”
“The NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant has been free of Lilial since at least 2020, even in Nigeria,” it stated.
Peoplesmind
