Following public outcry over the role they played in the codeine epidemic plaguing Nigeria, Emzor and two other pharmaceutical companies have been shut down by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The other culprits are Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited and Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye revealed this in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, officials of the agency had gathered insufficient evidence in an investigation of the companys’ facilities after facing resistance to provide needed documents during an inspection carried out by the agency’s officials.
“This is to allow for a full and comprehensive investigation into the activities of the three companies,” Adeyeye
The agency is currently beaming its searchlight on pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria after a BBC undercover report showed an Emzor sales rep selling bottles of codeine-containing cough syrup without prescription.
At least 3 million bottles of codeine-containing cough syrup bottles are consumed in Nigeria daily, research claimed.
The Herald Nigeria recalls that the Federal Ministry of Health, following the report, directed NAFDAC to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.
Adeyeye said the shut companies would only be reopened after showing sufficient compliance and readiness to cooperate with the agency.