The Federal Government said it is taking steps to sanitise the cosmetics industry to protect public health and ensure that beauty and personal care products used in Nigeria are safe and meet approved standards, health officials announced on Monday.
The announcement was made at the inauguration of the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health in Abuja, where officials said the measure is necessary to address rising health risks associated with unsafe cosmetic products circulating in the Nigerian market.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, speaking through a representative, said the policy aims to curb the use and sale of unsafe cosmetics that pose serious health threats to consumers.
The inauguration was attended by senior ministry officials, regulators and stakeholders from the beauty and personal care sector.
Ms Kachollom, represented by Dogara Okara, Senior Technical Assistant, said the policy was developed in response to the increasing circulation of harmful cosmetics across the country. She said the government is committed to eliminating substandard products and ensuring that cosmetics available to Nigerians meet approved safety requirements.
Officials expressed concern that unsafe cosmetic products can lead to significant health issues, including skin diseases, hormonal disorders, kidney damage and other long-term conditions.
They said the policy is designed to reduce such risks and protect consumers, especially vulnerable groups such as youth and women who widely use personal care products.
The initiative aligns with ongoing regulatory efforts by agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce standards and remove harmful products from the market, including raids and seizures of banned cosmetics in recent years.
The policy establishes a National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group that will coordinate implementation and collaborate with regulatory bodies, industry players, consumer associations and development partners to strengthen oversight.
Officials said the framework will ensure that cosmetics manufactured, imported, distributed and sold in Nigeria comply with safety standards and global best practices. The policy also introduces clear guidelines for product registration, labelling and quality assurance to protect consumers and promote confidence in the market.
Health authorities said that unsafe cosmetic products are a growing concern nationwide, driven by the proliferation of unregistered and substandard goods in both formal and informal markets.
They said the policy will support efforts to reduce adverse cosmetic events and improve consumer safety outcomes.
The Federal Government has launched a national policy to sanitise the cosmetics industry and eliminate harmful products that pose health risks to Nigerians.
The initiative emphasises regulatory compliance, safety standards and coordinated implementation to safeguard public health and strengthen consumer protection in the beauty and personal care sector.
