The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is informing the public of the presence of unregistered fair child soap in Nigeria.
A complaint was received regarding the unethical marketing and use of skin-lightening products among minors. During a routine post-market surveillance activity, the Lagos PMS Directorate discovered that an unregistered imported cosmetic product, “Fair Child Soap’’ is being sold in multiple retail outlets across Lagos. The soap is targeted at children and marketed with deceptive and misleading labeling.
At a consultative meeting with the marketer (Lexmart Cosmetics Ltd). It was confirmed that the product is imported, with plans for local manufacturing. Due to this discovery, the company has been sanctioned and instructed to stop further distribution as the product is not authorized for distribution in Nigeria and does not fall under the scope of a validly registered product with NAFDAC.
(Fair child soap) It is a skin-lightening product particularly for children.
Risk Statement
The sale of unregistered products poses a public health risk as they have not been evaluated by NAFDAC for safety, quality, or effectiveness. As a result, there are no guarantees regarding their safety. Given the skin-lightening claims and the target demographic of children, there is a significant potential for serious health hazards, including skin damage or sensitivity, exposure to harmful or banned substances, and long-term dermatological effects.
Product Details
The details of the unregistered product are as follows.
Product Name: Fair Child Soap
Produced for & marketed by: Lexmart Cosmetics Ltd
Product Photo: 
All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out immediate surveillance, identify and quarantine Fair child Soap where found, collect and submit samples for laboratory analysis and report findings for onward briefing to the Director General (NAFDAC) while mopping up the cosmetic products marketed for children especially skin-lightening soaps within the zones and states.
Distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the distribution, sale, and use of the unregistered product. All medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion or sale of unregistered, substandard, and falsified products (medicines or medical devices) to the nearest NAFDAC office on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng
Furthermore, note that this notice will be uploaded to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS).
NAFDAC………. Customer-focused, Agency-minded!!!
