Women’s Group Petitions Nigerian Regulators Over Chemicals in Sanitary Pads

ABUJA, NIGERIA — Urging immediate consumer safety audits, a prominent civil society women’s group petitions nigerian regulators to conduct comprehensive laboratory testing on sanitary pads sold nationwide over chemical contamination concerns.

The organization, She Mission Initiatives, submitted formal petitions to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Led by Director Pearllie Orji, the group called for an urgent nationwide post-market audit covering both locally manufactured and imported disposable pads. The petition raised warnings regarding skin irritation, endocrine disruption, and long-term reproductive health risks linked to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like 1,2-dichloropropane.

Key Regulatory Requests and Scientific Background

As the women’s group petitions nigerian regulators for safety intervention, academic research and legislative calls highlight growing public concern:

Focus Area	Operational & Regulatory Details	Strategic Consumer Safety Goals
Academic Basis	2024 study in Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences evaluated 65 samples across 16 brands.	Establish empirical benchmarks for VOC concentration levels in consumer hygiene goods.
Key Regulators	NAFDAC, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and FCCPC.	Initiate joint post-market surveillance and mandatory laboratory testing regimes.
Legislative Advocacy	Senate Committee Chair on Women Affairs Ireti Kingibe urged quality controls on Sept 22.	Guarantee transparent safety disclosures and publish brand-specific test findings.
Health Risks	Potential hormonal disruption, severe skin irritation, and toxic absorption.	Prevent long-term chemical exposure through routine menstrual hygiene products.

Academic Findings and Chemical Safety Concerns

The civil society petition builds on a 2024 academic study conducted by researchers from the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Nigerian Air Force Academy. The investigation evaluated 65 pad samples from 16 major commercial brands to assess volatile organic compound exposure among users.

Volatile organic compounds evaporate easily at room temperature and are often utilized in industrial adhesives, synthetic fragrances, and manufacturing processes. Because pads remain in direct contact with skin every month for extended periods, health advocates demand independent laboratory verification to determine whether chemical levels exceed safe toxicological thresholds.

Regulatory Priorities and Balancing Product Safety

Action from regulatory authorities remains critical as the women’s group petitions nigerian regulators to expand product oversight. While NAFDAC’s recent enforcement drives have concentrated heavily on counterfeit pharmaceuticals and expired food products, consumer hygiene products receive less routine regulatory scrutiny.

At the same time, advocates emphasize that safety warnings must be paired with accessible, safe options. With period poverty already compelling vulnerable women and girls to rely on unhygienic alternatives, regulatory transparency and clear brand-level reporting are vital to protect public health without restricting access to safe menstrual products.

Why It Matters: Millions of women and girls rely on disposable sanitary pads monthly; independent laboratory testing ensures imported and locally made products meet safe chemical standards without worsening period poverty.

 

 

Source: The Guardian Nigeria Report, October 1, 2026