…Agency Investigates Named Product As Women Report Itching, Burning Sensations And Other Reactions
….Regulator Launches Laboratory Tests After Concerns Over Substances Allegedly Found In Menstrual Product
Daud Olatunji
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has launched fresh investigations into the safety of disposable sanitary pads sold in Nigeria following growing concerns over their chemical composition and possible health effects.
The agency said it had commenced laboratory evaluation of a named sanitary-pad product and was also conducting a vigilance exercise to determine the presence of volatile organic compounds in selected registered sanitary pads.
The development followed renewed concerns on social media over claims that potentially harmful substances had been detected in some sanitary products, as well as reports from some women of itching, burning sensations, infections and perceived changes in menstrual flow after using particular brands.
However, NAFDAC stressed that the concerns must be subjected to scientific investigation before conclusions are drawn about the safety of specific products.
The agency said a complaint involving a named sanitary pad had already resulted in the product being sampled for laboratory assessment.
The tests, according to NAFDAC, include microbial-limit and skin-irritation examinations as part of efforts to determine whether the product meets applicable safety requirements.
“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,” the agency said.
Beyond the specific complaint, NAFDAC said it had commenced an assessment of volatile organic compounds in selected sanitary pads with valid marketing authorisation.
The move is significant because VOCs are chemical compounds that can evaporate into the air, and concerns about their presence in menstrual products have generated public debate in recent years.
NAFDAC said it was also examining the regulatory experience of other countries, including South Korea, in monitoring and reducing VOCs in menstrual products.
The agency said the findings could inform additional regulatory measures, including VOC testing and monitoring, restrictions on substances of regulatory concern, disclosure of fragrances and other relevant constituents, and stronger post-market surveillance.
It added, however, that any additional requirements would be introduced only on the basis of scientific evidence, risk assessment and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The latest investigation follows growing online discussions surrounding claims about chemicals allegedly detected in sanitary pads following studies reportedly conducted in 2024 by scientists from the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Air Force Institute of Technology.
A doctor, Aniekwe Donald, had questioned what regulatory authorities had done about the findings being circulated and called for greater transparency regarding the chemical composition and safety requirements applicable to sanitary pads sold in Nigeria.
The concerns have also been amplified by accounts from some women who said they experienced adverse reactions after using particular brands.
Some users reported itching, burning sensations and infections, while others alleged changes in their menstrual flow.
However, there have also been consumers who reported using the same products for years without experiencing similar problems.
Health professionals have therefore urged caution in treating individual experiences or claims circulating online as conclusive evidence that an entire product or category is unsafe.
Pharmacist Ezekiel Daniel cautioned that people could have different sensitivities or allergies to particular products and said adverse reactions should be investigated scientifically.
He also urged NAFDAC to clarify publicly what the scientific studies being cited online actually established.
NAFDAC said disposable 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 said it applies the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard, NIS 291, developed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, when evaluating disposable sanitary pads.
It added that manufacturers must meet applicable quality-management requirements, while product labelling is reviewed to ensure consumers receive information needed for safe use.
The regulator also rejected claims that it does not test disposable sanitary pads.
According to the agency, laboratory evaluation is conducted on products submitted for regulatory approval, as well as products sampled during post-market surveillance.
NAFDAC emphasised that approval of a sanitary-pad product does not mark the end of regulatory supervision.
It said registered products remain subject to post-market monitoring, while complaints and reports of suspected adverse reactions can trigger investigations and possible regulatory action.
The agency said its Greenbook contains numerous locally manufactured and imported sanitary pads with valid registrations.
It, however, stressed that such registration does not shield products from further scrutiny if new evidence or complaints emerge.
NAFDAC said it was reviewing emerging scientific evidence concerning menstrual products and would strengthen its regulatory framework where necessary.
For millions of Nigerian women and girls who depend on sanitary pads every month, the ongoing laboratory investigations could provide important evidence on the safety of products widely used across the country.
The agency said its overriding objective was to protect public health and assured consumers that concerns involving menstrual-health products would be assessed through scientific evidence, laboratory testing and regulatory investigation.
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