The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to regulate cosmetic products in Nigeria amid growing concerns over their health risks, with the inauguration of the National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group.
The Technical Working Group was inaugurated on Tuesday in Abuja, signalling a shift from policy formulation to implementation in addressing cosmetic-related health hazards nationwide.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Dogara Okara said the move reflected the government’s determination to confront cosmetic safety risks that have long been overlooked.
He warned that unsafe cosmetic products now constitute a major public health concern, with reported effects ranging from skin disorders and discoloration to hormonal disruption, kidney failure and cancer.
“Cosmetic products containing toxic substances such as formaldehyde and heavy metals can damage vital organs, including the kidneys, eyes and heart,” Okara said, noting that the risks informed the development of a national framework to safeguard public health.
He explained that the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health, approved at the 66th National Council on Health meeting in Calabar in November 2025, provided the legal and policy basis for the establishment of the Technical Working Group.
According to him, the committee is mandated to provide technical guidance for policy implementation, coordinate cosmetic safety initiatives across sectors, translate ministerial directives into action and support the enforcement of safety standards. He added that members of the group would serve a five-year term.
Earlier, the Director and Head of the Food and Drug Services Department of the ministry, Mrs. Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola, said the meeting marked the beginning of coordinated technical engagement under the cosmetics safety policy.
She said the platform would help align expertise, expectations and priority actions for effective implementation.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Dr. Paul Okhakhu, said the absence of a coordinated framework in the past had encouraged the circulation of substandard cosmetic products.
“Improperly formulated cosmetics can disrupt the endocrine system, damage the kidneys and even affect unborn children,” Okhakhu said, adding that the new framework would align Nigeria with global best practices.
He said Nigerians should expect stronger regulation, improved labelling and increased public awareness between 2026 and 2030.
In a goodwill message, the World Health Organization warned that unregulated cosmetic production, particularly at informal levels, could silently compromise public health across generations.
Similarly, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control said implementation of the cosmetics safety policy had already commenced.
Speaking for the agency, Prince Ikenna Usofor said no cosmetic product, whether imported or locally manufactured, would be allowed into the Nigerian market without regulatory clearance.
“This policy must not become another document left on the shelf. Every cosmetic product in circulation must meet safety standards,” Usofor said.
The Technical Working Group comprises representatives from key ministries, regulatory agencies, law enforcement bodies, academia and development partners.
With the inauguration of the committee, the Federal Government said Nigeria is better positioned to curb the circulation of unsafe cosmetic products and protect public health through coordinated and evidence-based regulation.
