German company reacts to ban on Nivea brand by NAFDAC

German company reacts to ban on Nivea brand by NAFDAC

In response to Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) banning Nivea Black & White Invisible roll-on deodorant, Beiersdorf, the German multinational company behind Nivea, clarified that this product was discontinued in 2022 and is no longer marketed or advertised in Nigeria.

NAFDAC had recently advised against the use of Nivea Black & White Invisible Body Deodorant, citing its recall in Europe due to the presence of chemicals deemed unsafe for use in cosmetics.

Beiersdorf addressed the NAFDAC advisory in a statement, highlighting that the flagged chemical, identified as 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA), has been banned from cosmetic products in Europe under recent regulatory changes.

“The recalled Nivea product is said to contain 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA), a chemical prohibited in cosmetics products due to its ability to cause harm to the reproductive system, impair the health of an unborn child, as well as skin irritation and burns to users,” the statement reads in part.

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According to the company, the ingredient known as 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (LilialTM) was removed from European markets as of March 1, 2022, in line with current legislation. Beiersdorf emphasized that the specific batch NAFDAC flagged, Batch No. 93529610, was never sold in Nigeria and expired in January 2022, when it still adhered to then-valid European cosmetic standards.

“We wish to assure our esteemed customers that the Batch No. 93529610 in question has not been marketed in Nigeria and thus never recalled by Beiersdorf, the owner of NIVEA brand, as the legal manufacturer. The batch in question, in fact, expired in January 2022 and was hence at the time fully compliant with the then valid European cosmetic regulation.”

The company also reinforced its commitment to global safety standards, noting that its products undergo thorough quality checks to meet regulatory guidelines.

“Our entire NIVEA portfolio has been reformulated to exclude Lilial well ahead of the EU regulation that came into effect,” the company said.

“The NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant has been Lilial-free since at least 2020, including in Nigeria,” it added.

 

German company reacts to ban on Nivea brand by NAFDAC