‘Banned NIVEA Roll-on Deodorant Batch Not On Sale In Nigeria’

The management of Beiersdorf has said NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant (50 ml) batch number 93529610 is not on sale in Nigeria.

The firm said it was aware of a safety alert notification issued by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)  in Nigeria on the  European Union (EU) Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products (RAPEX).

In a statement issued at the weekend, the management explained that the batch is said to contain 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA).

It said based on current European legislation, the use of ingredient 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (LilialTM) in cosmetic products has been banned from the European markets as of March 1, 2022.

The statement was signed by three directors: Oladele Adeyole (Nigerian), Jana Strametz (German), Mathieu Levasseur (French).

The directors assured the company’s customers that the Batch No. 93529610 in question had 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.

They said as a responsible corporate citizen, Beiersdorf is working collaboratively with NAFDAC to safeguard the interest of the Nigerian consumers by ensuring that our locally manufactured product meets the global quality standards.

Beiersdorf said the safety of its consumers remains its highest priority, “consistent with our ethical philosophy as a business.

“In pursuit of this commitment, Beiersdorf’s entire NIVEA product portfolio formulations have been reformulated to be Lilial-free formulas in full compliance with the EU Regulation on cosmetic products well ahead of its Lilial ban coming into effect as far back as March 1, 2022. For instance, the formulation of NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant has been Lilial-free since at least 2020 across the globe, including Nigeria.

“Our trade partners were informed ahead of time and reminded of their responsibility to remove the outdated Lilial-containing products within the legal timeframe to fulfil their obligations with the European Cosmetic Product Regulation,” the management said.