Selling Goods? What the FCCPC Labelling Directive Means for Your Shelves

FCCPC Directive on Mandatory Labelling of Manufactured Goods: What Businesses and Consumers Need to Know

On 19 August 2026, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) issued a Public Advisory titled “Mandatory Labelling of Manufactured Goods for Consumer Information.” The Advisory was issued pursuant to sections 17(p), 17(w), 17(x), 114, 116, 123 and 125 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 (FCCPA).

The Advisory has been reported by Nairametrics, Vanguard, BusinessDay, The Guardian and TheCable. Some media reports have referred to the development as a “recall.” However, the FCCPC’s own wording is more precise: it directs relevant businesses to immediately review their inventories and withdraw from sale consumer goods that do not comply with applicable labelling requirements.

The FCCPC stated that its market surveillance, routine inspections and quality assurance activities had identified consumer goods bearing misleading or deceptive information, as well as products without important labelling information. It consequently directed businesses across the supply chain to review their products and remove non-compliant goods from sale.

Who Does the Advisory Apply To?

The directive expressly covers:

• Manufacturers • Importers • Distributors • Retailers

This means the responsibility is not limited to the manufacturer. Businesses that distribute or sell consumer goods are also expected to ensure that products offered to consumers comply with applicable labelling requirements.

Accordingly, a retailer, wholesaler or online seller may face regulatory consequences where non-compliant goods remain in its inventory or are offered for sale, even where the business did not manufacture the product.

What Information Should Product Labels Contain?

According to the FCCPC, its surveillance activities identified products that lacked or contained inadequate information such as:

• Production dates • Expiry or best-before dates • Batch numbers • Manufacturer details • Ingredient lists • Allergen information, where applicable • Country of origin • Other mandatory labelling information

The Commission also identified products carrying misleading or deceptive information as a concern.

The precise labelling requirements applicable to a particular product may, however, depend on the nature of the product and the standards or regulations applicable to it. The FCCPC specifically refers to compliance with applicable standards established by competent regulatory authorities, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The Existing Legal Framework

The Advisory does not create the underlying consumer-information obligations from scratch. Rather, it reinforces existing obligations under the FCCPA and applicable product-specific standards and regulations.

The FCCPC’s consumer-rights guidance recognises consumers’ right to relevant information on product labels and requires businesses to provide product information in a manner that is easily understandable.

The FCCPA also prohibits misleading representations and deceptive trade descriptions in relation to goods and services. In particular, section 116 addresses trade descriptions that are likely to mislead consumers, while section 123 addresses false, misleading, erroneous or deceptive representations made in connection with goods or services.

The 19 August Advisory should therefore be understood principally as an enforcement and compliance warning: businesses are being placed on notice that the FCCPC is increasing attention to product labelling and expects immediate compliance.

What Are the Regulatory Risks?

The FCCPC has warned that businesses that continue to distribute or sell non-compliant products risk appropriate regulatory enforcement action.

Depending on the nature of the violation and the applicable provisions of the FCCPA and other relevant regulations, enforcement may include investigative measures, orders or other regulatory remedies, administrative penalties and, where an offence is established, prosecution.

Businesses should therefore avoid treating the Advisory as merely informational. The FCCPC has expressly stated that it intends to strengthen nationwide market surveillance and enforcement activities in collaboration with relevant regulatory authorities.

What Should Businesses Do Now?

Businesses dealing in manufactured consumer goods should take the following steps:

1. 1.Conduct an immediate inventory review.

1. 1.Identify products requiring withdrawal.

1. 1.Review supplier documentation.

1. 1.Verify imported products.

1. 1.Review product claims.

1. 1.Maintain proper records.

What Should Consumers Do?

Consumers are also advised to examine product labels before purchasing goods.

The FCCPC specifically advises consumers to avoid products with missing, illegible, altered, misrepresented or poor-quality labels, as well as products bearing false claims or misleading information. Suspected cases of non-compliance should be reported through the Commission’s official complaint channels.

Consumers should pay particular attention to essential information such as expiry or best-before dates, batch numbers, manufacturer details, ingredients and other information relevant to the particular product.

Conclusion

The FCCPC’s 19 August 2026 Advisory represents a clear compliance warning to businesses involved in the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of consumer goods.

Importantly, the FCCPC has directed businesses to review their inventories and withdraw non-compliant goods from sale. It is therefore more accurate to describe the development as a regulatory directive for the withdrawal of improperly labelled goods rather than a general product “recall.”

Businesses should treat the Advisory as an opportunity to conduct an immediate labelling and compliance audit, particularly where their products are subject to additional requirements imposed by SON, NAFDAC or other competent regulatory authorities.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Businesses that have received a notice, inspection request or enforcement communication from the FCCPC should obtain legal advice based on the specific circumstances of the matter.