The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed that all consumer products sold in Nigeria must carry clear English-language labels, warning that failure to comply will attract regulatory sanctions.
The directive applies to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers, and is aimed at improving consumer safety, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that buyers are able to understand product information before making purchasing decisions.
Brandspur Industry News Desk reports that the announcement was made during the 2026 World Consumer Rights Day commemoration in Abuja, where FCCPC leadership stressed that products labelled solely in foreign languages without English translations violate existing consumer protection laws and expose the public to unnecessary health and safety risks.
The commission noted that recent market surveillance has uncovered a growing number of improperly labelled and substandard goods, including products with misleading descriptions and inadequate safety information. These practices, according to the agency, undermine consumer confidence and create unfair competition for businesses that comply with regulatory standards.
To address the issue, the FCCPC said it has intensified enforcement measures, including expanded market inspections, product testing, and closer collaboration with regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Regulators emphasised that English remains Nigeria’s official language for commerce and public communication, making it mandatory for all essential product details—such as ingredients, usage instructions, warnings, and expiration dates—to be presented in English for the benefit of consumers nationwide.
The agency also urged companies to strengthen quality assurance processes across their supply chains, from manufacturing to distribution, in order to prevent counterfeit and unsafe goods from entering the market. Consumers were encouraged to verify product authenticity, read labels carefully, and report suspicious items to authorities.
The FCCPC warned that non-compliant firms risk facing penalties including fines, product seizures, and possible bans, as part of a broader effort to restore trust in Nigeria’s consumer markets and protect public health.
