FCCPC orders withdrawal of consumer goods with incomplete, misleading labels
By Firdaus Jibril
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has ordered manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers to withdraw consumer goods with incomplete, misleading, or non-compliant labels from the market.
The Commission gave the directive in a public advisory issued on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, following what it described as an increase in the circulation and sale of consumer goods that do not meet existing product-labelling requirements.
According to the FCCPC, its market surveillance, routine inspections, and quality assurance activities uncovered products carrying misleading or deceptive information, as well as products lacking essential consumer information.
The Commission listed missing production dates, expiry or best-before dates, batch numbers, manufacturer details, ingredient lists, allergen information, and countries of origin among the labelling deficiencies identified.
It noted that proper labelling is necessary to enable consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and protect them from potential health, safety, and financial risks.
The FCCPC noted that its powers to enforce consumer protection and product information requirements are derived from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
It added that product labelling must comply with applicable standards set by relevant regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The Commission therefore directed businesses involved in the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of consumer goods to immediately review their inventories.
It said products that fail to meet applicable labelling requirements must be withdrawn from sale, warning that businesses that continue to distribute or sell non-compliant products risk regulatory enforcement action.
The FCCPC also advised consumers to examine product labels carefully before purchasing goods.
It urged consumers to avoid products with missing, illegible, altered, or poor-quality labels, as well as items containing false claims or misleading information.
The Commission noted that suspected cases of non-compliance should be reported through its official complaint channels.
The FCCPC added that it would sustain nationwide market surveillance and enforcement activities in collaboration with relevant regulatory authorities to improve compliance and protect consumers.