Consumer Protection Council has directed Coca Cola Nigeria
Limited and the Nigerian Bottling Company to subject their manufacturing
processes to the Council’s inspection for a period of 12 months to
ensure compliance with laid down safety standards and regulations or
face prosecution.
The directive came as a result of the
outcome of a recent investigation by the CPC, which revealed that cans
of sprite soft drink manufactured by NBC under the licence of Coca Coca
Nigeria Limited, were unfit for human consumption.
The Director
General, CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, disclosed this at a press briefing on the
‘Investigation into Violation of Product Quality Standards by the
Nigerian Bottling Company and Coca Cola Nigeria Limited’, in Lagos
yesterday.
However, in a joint statement signed by Mr.Clem Ugorji
Public Affairs & Communications Manager Coca Cola Nigeria Limited
and Adeyanju Olomola Head, Public Affairs and Communications, Nigerian
Bottling Company Limited (NBC) and Coca Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL)
confirmed that the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) recently carried
out a product complaint investigation involving both companies in
respect of two short filled cans of Sprite.
The statement said
that “each organization cooperated with the Council in the course of the
investigation and provided the information available to it in varying
respects including but not limited to quality assurance, product
handling and consumer complaints resolution processes which have been
updated over the years. It is regrettable that the Council’s conclusions
and recommendations do not appear to have acknowledged the information.
“As
responsible organizations, NBC and CCNL take all matters relating to
products very seriously and remain committed to maintaining the highest
international quality management and food safety standards and
certifications. Because consumers are at the heart of everything we do,
both organizations also take a responsive approach towards satisfying
customers and consumers. Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and Coca Cola
Nigeria Limited hold the Council and, indeed, all regulators and
stakeholders in high esteem and will continue to work with them to make
any necessary improvement.
But the Director General Consumer
Protection Council said “The Panel, after five hearings, held between
September 2013 and February, 2014 substantiated the allegation of
product defect and violation of the Consumer Protection Council Act,
though the investigation was premised on two half filled cans of Sprite,
it led to a plethora of findings, among which are: that the cans of
Sprite are products of the Nigerian Bottling Company under license of
Coca Coca Nigeria Limited; that the cans of sprite were defective and
had health and safety implications for consumers;
“that Nigerian
Bottling Company does not have a detailed written shelf life policy for
dealing with expired products; that Nigerian Bottling Company’s
grievance resolution policy does not cover instances where the consumer
suffers physical injury from consumption, or compensation in instances
where Replacement will be inadequate; at Nigerian Bottling Company’s
supply chain management does not extend to retailers who the bulk of
Nigerian consumers buy their products from; and that Nigerian Bottling
Company’s traceability policy fails to’ effectively address the real
purpose as the company often relies on information as to the place of
purchase of the product. In view of all these, the Council made far
reaching recommendations for system change in Nigerian Bottling Company
and Coca Cola Nigeria Limited.
“To this effect, it has issued an
Order, which gives clear directions for standard compliance in all areas
that the companies have been found wanting.
The Order requires
Nigerian Bottling Company and Coca Cola Nigeria Limited to: subject
their manufacturing process to the Council’s inspection for a period of
12 months to ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations;
formulate and make available to the Council a Shelf Life Policy within
90 days to facilitate the removal of expired products from the market;
review within 90 days their grievance resolution policy to : address
compensation for injuries, or compensation in instances where
replacement will be inadequate; review their supply chain management
policy within 90 days to include retailers in order to minimise the
distribution of defective, ‘ non conforming or expired products. review
within 90 days their traceability policy to make it easier for the
companies to track their products without necessarily requesting
purchase information from the consumer.
