Beiersdorf, the German multinational manufacturer of NIVEA products, has issued a strong response to recent safety concerns raised by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regarding its Black & White Invisible Roll-on deodorant, stating the flagged product was discontinued globally in 2022.
In a statement released Saturday, Beiersdorf addressed NAFDAC’s warning about the presence of 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA) in the deodorant.
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“We wish to assure our esteemed customers that the Batch No. 93529610 in question has not been marketed in Nigeria and thus never recalled by Beiersdorf, the owner of NIVEA brand, as the legal manufacturer. The batch in question, in fact, expired in January 2022 and was hence at the time fully compliant with the then valid European cosmetic regulation,” the company stated.
NAFDAC had earlier issued a safety alert warning consumers against using the product, citing concerns that BMHCA could “cause harm to the reproductive system, impair the health of an unborn child, as well as skin irritation and burns to users.”
The timing of events appears crucial in this case. The Explainer learned, the European Union banned the use of BMHCA (also known as Lilial™) in cosmetic products effective March 1, 2022. Beiersdorf confirms it had already taken proactive steps before this regulation:
“Our entire NIVEA portfolio has been reformulated to exclude Lilial well ahead of the EU regulation that came into effect. The NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant has been Lilial-free since at least 2020, including in Nigeria.”
The company emphasized its commitment to global safety standards, stating that all its products undergo rigorous quality checks to meet regulatory requirements.
Additionally, Beiersdorf confirmed it is actively working with NAFDAC to ensure proper regulation and has implemented measures to protect and inform Nigerian consumers.
