The She Mission Initiatives, a women-focused non-governmental organisation, has petitioned the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over alleged safety concerns surrounding disposable sanitary pads sold in Nigeria.
In a joint administrative petition dated September 28, 2026, the organisation urged the three regulatory agencies to conduct an immediate nationwide post-market audit and comprehensive laboratory testing of locally manufactured and imported sanitary pads in the Nigerian market.
The petition was prompted by findings contained in a 2024 scientific research paper published in the Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, titled, “Risk Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Disposable Sanitary Pads in Nigeria.”
The Executive Director of The She Mission Initiatives, Pearllie Orji, said the organisation had formally brought the concerns raised by the study to the attention of the three regulatory authorities.
According to the organisation, the study, conducted by researchers from the Faculty of Sciences of the Nigerian Defence Academy in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force Academy, examined 65 samples of disposable sanitary pads from popular brands sold in Nigeria.
The NGO said the study identified up to 34 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with about 17 specific VOCs detected across 16 major brands.
It further stated that the researchers detected compounds, including 1,2-dichloropropane, which the organisation said had been associated with carcinogenic or toxic classifications under certain high-exposure models.
The group said the reported findings warranted regulatory scrutiny because sanitary pads are designed for direct and prolonged contact with the skin around the vulva.
It said the reported presence of the compounds raised concerns about possible skin irritation, hormonal disruption and other potential long-term health implications.
The organisation, however, acknowledged that the reported findings required independent verification by the relevant regulatory authorities before any conclusion could be reached about the safety or compliance status of products currently sold in Nigeria.
It therefore urged NAFDAC, SON and FCCPC to independently investigate the study through nationwide sampling and laboratory analysis and take appropriate regulatory action against any product subsequently found to be non-compliant.
Specifically, the organisation demanded immediate market sampling and testing of major locally manufactured and imported sanitary pad brands available in Nigeria.
It also asked the regulators to publish detailed information on the safety limits currently applicable to chemical substances in sanitary pads and provide consumers with clear information on the safety of menstrual hygiene products sold in the country.
The group further requested that the agencies suspend, recall and confiscate any sanitary pad brand found through regulatory testing to have exceeded applicable safety thresholds for toxic chemical residues.
Another demand was the introduction of mandatory laboratory screening for VOCs, phthalates and heavy metals as a prerequisite for the registration and clearance of menstrual hygiene products.
In separate Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to NAFDAC and SON, the organisation also sought access to regulatory and laboratory records relating to sanitary pads.
Its FOI request to NAFDAC sought certified copies of the agency’s current regulatory framework, maximum residue limits or acceptable safety thresholds for VOCs, phthalates, dioxins and heavy metals in disposable sanitary pads.
The organisation also requested copies of NAFDAC’s post-market surveillance reports, laboratory safety audits and quality-testing records for registered sanitary pad brands from January 2024 to date.
It further asked the agency to provide a list of all sanitary pad brands currently holding valid NAFDAC registration numbers in Nigeria.
Similarly, the FOI request to SON sought certified copies of the current Nigerian Industrial Standards applicable to sanitary pads, as well as approved maximum permissible limits for chemical residues and heavy metals in absorbent hygiene products.
The organisation also requested SON’s conformity assessment records, including MANCAP documentation for locally manufactured products and SONCAP documentation relating to imported sanitary pads.
The group invoked Sections 1, 2 and 4 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and requested the agencies to provide the information within seven working days of receiving the demands.
It said that where any information was withheld, the relevant agency should provide written reasons and the legal basis for the refusal, in accordance with the FOI Act.
According to the organisation, the petitions were aimed at compelling the regulatory authorities to independently verify the claims contained in the 2024 study and determine whether sanitary pads currently circulating in the Nigerian market comply with applicable safety standards.
Orji said menstrual hygiene products were basic necessities rather than luxuries, stressing that women and girls were entitled to transparency concerning the safety of products they use regularly.
She urged the agencies to carry out their statutory responsibilities by verifying the study’s findings, conducting appropriate laboratory audits and taking regulatory action against any products subsequently established to be non-compliant.
The organisation said its intervention was also intended to ensure that consumers had access to adequate information about the chemical safety standards applicable to menstrual hygiene products in Nigeria.
The petitioners cited provisions of the NAFDAC Act, SON Act 2015 and FCCPC Act 2018 as imposing responsibilities on the respective agencies to regulate product safety, enforce standards and protect consumers from hazardous or substandard goods.
