Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited, Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited and Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Ltd, were part of the companies affected by the codeine crisis and have consequently been shut down by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC).
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, The Director-General of the Agency, in a statement on Monday, said the decision was taken following findings from investigations and inspections at the affected companies.
In his words, “Due to insufficient evidence gathered and apparent resistance to provide needed documents during our inspection on May 2, 2018, at the respective companies in Ilorin and Lagos, respectively, it has become necessary to shut down all the product lines of the three companies – Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited, plots 3 & 8, Adewole Industrial Estate, Lubcon Avenue, Ilorin, Kwara State; Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited, 405 Kaima Road, Ilorin, Kwara State and Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Ltd., Ajao Estate, Lagos. This is to pave way for a full and comprehensive investigation. The three companies, therefore, remain closed.”
He further stated that the reopening of the manufacturing companies will depend on the level of cooperation that is shown during the comprehensive investigation.
The DG has assigned a task force made up of NAFDAC’s directors in charge of registration and regulatory affairs; narcotics and controlled substances; and drug evaluation and research to embark on this project.
An investigational inspection at the companies of the two different pharmaceutical companies that are licensed to manufacture codeine-containing syrup, and which were implicated in the BBC documentary by a team of nine NAFDAC and ten mobile police officers had been sent to Ilorin, Kwara state on May 2, 2018.
