The German multinational company behind the Nivea brand, Beiersdorf, has spoken out following the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) ban on its Nivea Black and White Invisible roll-on deodorant.
According to Beiersdorf, the product in question has been discontinued since 2022 and is no longer sold or advertised in Nigeria.
NAFDAC had issued a warning against using the deodorant due to its alleged containment of harmful chemicals prohibited in cosmetics products.
Specifically, the agency cited the presence of 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA), which led European authorities to recall the product.
Beiersdorf’s statement comes in response to NAFDAC’s position against the sale or distribution of the product.
“The recalled Nivea product is said to contain 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA), a chemical prohibited in cosmetics products due to its ability to cause harm to the reproductive system, impair the health of an unborn child, as well as skin irritation and burns to users,” the statement reads in part
“Our entire NIVEA portfolio has been reformulated to exclude Lilial well ahead of the EU regulation that came into effect,” the company said.
“The NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant has been Lilial-free since at least 2020, including in Nigeria,” it added.
