NAFDAC Investigates Sanitary Pads Over Chemical Safety Concerns

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has commenced investigations into concerns over the safety of disposable sanitary pads sold in Nigeria.

The agency said it has also begun a vigilance exercise to assess the presence of volatile organic compounds, VOCs, in selected sanitary pads that have valid NAFDAC marketing authorisation.

The development follows renewed public concern over claims that potentially harmful chemicals have been detected in some sanitary products.

The concerns have spread on social media in recent weeks, with calls for Nigerian regulators to establish what substances are present in sanitary pads sold in the country and whether any pose a health risk.

A NAMED SANITARY PAD IS ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATIONNAFDAC said it is currently investigating a complaint involving a named sanitary pad.

The agency said the product has been sampled and sent for laboratory evaluation.The tests include assessment of microbial limits and skin irritation, among other safety checks.

“A complaint received on a named sanitary pad is currently being investigated as the product has been sampled for laboratory evaluation for safety including microbial limit and skin irritation tests,” NAFDAC said.

The agency did not identify the brand involved in the complaint.

WHAT ARE THE VOC CONCERNS?

The latest regulatory action is also focused on volatile organic compounds. VOCs are chemical compounds that can evaporate into the air. Their possible presence in menstrual products has become a subject of scientific and regulatory attention because women may have repeated and prolonged exposure to such products.

NAFDAC said it is assessing selected registered sanitary pads to determine the presence of VOCs. The agency is also reviewing how other countries, including South Korea, regulate and monitor VOCs in menstrual products.

WHAT THE NIGERIAN STUDY FOUND

The current concerns partly stem from scientific research conducted in Nigeria. A 2024 study on disposable sanitary pads analysed samples and reported the detection of multiple VOCs.

A related published research paper examined VOCs in disposable sanitary pads in Nigeria and reported the detection of several compounds across the products tested.

However, the presence of a chemical in a product does not automatically establish that the product causes illness.

Questions such as the concentration of the substance, the route and duration of exposure, applicable safety limits and the actual health effects require scientific assessment. This is why NAFDAC’s current laboratory investigation is significant.

WOMEN REPORT DIFFERENT REACTIONS

The renewed debate has also been fuelled by reports from some women who said they experienced itching, burning sensations, infections or changes in menstrual flow after using particular sanitary-pad brands.

Other consumers, however, have reported using the same products for years without experiencing similar reactions.

Health professionals have cautioned against automatically linking individual symptoms to chemical exposure from sanitary products without proper medical and scientific investigation.

Pharmacist Ezekiel Daniel, according to Leadership, said individual reactions could also arise from differences in sensitivity or allergies.He cautioned against declaring a product unsafe solely because some consumers reported adverse reactions.

NAFDAC REJECTS CLAIM THAT IT DOES NOT TEST PADS

NAFDAC also pushed back against claims that the agency does not test disposable sanitary pads.

The regulator said sanitary pads are classified as Class I medical devices and are subject to regulatory requirements covering registration, laboratory evaluation, manufacturing processes and post-market surveillance.

“The agency conducts laboratory evaluation of Disposable Sanitary Pad products submitted for regulatory approval and those sampled from post-market surveillance activities,” NAFDAC said.

The agency said it uses the applicable Nigerian Industrial Standard, NIS 291, developed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, in evaluating disposable sanitary pads.

Manufacturers are also required to comply with applicable quality-management requirements.

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NAFDAC said it reviews product labelling to ensure consumers receive information needed for safe use.

REGISTRATION DOES NOT END REGULATORY MONITORING

The agency stressed that obtaining marketing authorisation does not bring regulatory oversight to an end.

According to NAFDAC, registered products remain subject to post-market surveillance throughout their life cycle.

Its Greenbook contains numerous locally manufactured and imported sanitary-pad products with valid registrations.

The agency said complaints and reports of adverse reactions can trigger further investigation and possible regulatory action.

MORE REGULATORY MEASURES POSSIBLE

NAFDAC said its ongoing assessment could lead to additional regulatory measures if scientific evidence supports them. Possible measures under consideration include expanded VOC testing and monitoring, restrictions on substances considered to be of regulatory concern, disclosure of fragrances and other relevant constituents, and stronger post-market surveillance.

The agency stressed that any new requirements would be based on scientific evidence, risk assessment and consultation with relevant stakeholders.

WHAT THE INVESTIGATION DOES NOT YET SHOW

The investigation should not be interpreted as confirmation that all sanitary pads sold in Nigeria are dangerous. Neither has NAFDAC announced that all products containing VOCs are unsafe.

At this stage, the regulator is investigating specific complaints and assessing selected products.

The scientific questions that remain include which products contain particular compounds, at what concentrations, whether those levels create meaningful exposure risks and whether any products fail applicable Nigerian safety requirements.

Those questions can only be settled through laboratory testing and proper risk assessment.

THE PUBLIC AWAITS NAFDAC’S FINDINGS

The investigation has also renewed calls for greater transparency from regulators and manufacturers. Earlier calls for investigation came after public discussion of research findings and questions about whether Nigerian regulatory authorities had adequately examined the chemical composition of sanitary products sold in the country.

NAFDAC said it is reviewing emerging scientific evidence and will strengthen its regulatory framework where necessary.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the present development is an investigation, not a declaration that sanitary pads generally are unsafe. The outcome of the laboratory tests and NAFDAC’s subsequent risk assessment will be crucial in determining whether specific products or substances require regulatory action.

For consumers, the immediate issue is therefore not to panic or assume that every sanitary pad is harmful, but to await evidence from the regulator while reporting suspected adverse reactions through appropriate channels.