Firm addresses NAFDAC safety alert on NIVEA Deodorant Batch not distributed in Nigeria

Firm clarifies that the NIVEA deodorant batch in NAFDAC’s alert was never marketed in Nigeria, reassuring customers of product safety

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]eiersdorf, the parent company of NIVEA, has responded to a recent safety alert issued by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regarding a batch of NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant.

Also read: NAFDAC alerts Nigerians to recall of Nivea Black & White invisible roll-on due to safety concerns

The alert, issued on 31 October 2024, involved batch number 93529610, flagged in the European Union’s (EU) Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products (RAPEX) due to the presence of the ingredient 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde, commonly known as Lilial.

In light of these reports, Beiersdorf reassured Nigerian consumers that the batch in question was never marketed in Nigeria, noting that it expired in January 2022. As a result, the product adhered to European cosmetic safety regulations that were in place at the time of production.

According to Beiersdorf, the use of Lilial was banned in European cosmetics as of 1 March 2022, a regulation the company preemptively complied with.

“Beiersdorf has fully reformulated all NIVEA products to be Lilial-free since at least 2020, in line with EU regulatory standards,” the company confirmed, underscoring its commitment to consumer safety.

Beiersdorf further explained that the formulation of the NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant was updated globally, including in Nigeria, well before the EU’s ban came into effect.

The company is collaborating closely with NAFDAC to ensure product safety and quality standards are consistently upheld. Beiersdorf’s local and international operations focus on ethical standards and consumer protection, prioritising health and safety.

Additionally, the company highlighted that its trade partners were informed ahead of the EU’s regulatory changes and reminded of their responsibility to withdraw any older, Lilial-containing products within the legal timeframe.

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