The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has called on Nigeria’s Codex National Contact Point to support the introduction of mandatory alcohol labeling at the 49th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL49) holding on May 13, 2026, in Ottawa.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint body of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is responsible for setting international food standards.
According to health experts, alcohol has been classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer since 1988 and is linked to at least seven types of cancer. Despite this, advocates argue that alcohol products remain among the least labeled consumer products globally, with warning labels absent in many countries.
RDI, alongside member organisations of Movendi International, said evidence-based and standardised warning labels are essential to protecting consumers’ right to information about the risks associated with alcohol consumption.
In a statement issued in Lagos, RDI Executive Director, Philip Jakpor, urged the Nigerian government to take a clear position in support of alcohol warning labels.
“The CODEX discussions present an opportunity for the Nigerian government to take a firm stand in support of labels on every bottle.
“Consumers have the right to information about products they buy and use to enable them to make informed choices. The absence of clear and legible labels on alcohol bottles is no longer tenable,” Jakpor said.
He argued that Nigeria should prioritise public health concerns above industry interests by supporting global measures that could eventually shape national legislation on alcohol labeling. Jakpor also disclosed that Movendi International recently released a policy brief intended to guide participating governments, including Nigeria, during the discussions at CCFL49.
According to the advocacy groups, participating countries are being encouraged to support the commencement of new work on alcohol labeling under document CX/FL 26/49/8; the establishment of an Electronic Working Group chaired by Tanzania to draft proposed amendments for consideration at CCFL50; recognition that alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen linked to multiple cancers and that health warnings, including cancer warnings, should form part of labeling requirements; and opposition to attempts to delay the process, limit labeling to alcohol strength information alone, or replace on-pack warnings with QR codes and electronic labels.
The groups maintained that transparent alcohol labeling remains a critical public health measure aimed at enabling consumers to make informed decisions about alcohol consumption.
