PHOTOS: Inside the house where top cosmetics dealer “produces” expired products
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has uncovered buildings in which expired products are allegedly kept and the dates altered to deceive the public.
The agency nabbed a cosmetics and wine importer, Mr. Joseph Udeh, suspected of engaging in the criminal act.
Udeh is said to be the owner of Jouf Nigeria Limited, located at No. 10 Faith Street, off Comfort Oboh Street, Kirikiri Road, Apapa, Lagos.
He also owns a shop located at Balogun Market, Trade Fair complex, and is said to specialise in supplying major retail outlets and some of the major department stores in Nigeria.
He is a major dealer in popular cosmetics and home product brands.
Udeh was reportedly discovered to be carrying out the operation at two four-storey residential buildings, converting the rooms into storage facilities for products.
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Some of the cosmetic products were seen carrying expiry dates as far back as 2004. There were also products bearing 2013 and 2016 expiry dates.
SON’s Head of Inspectorate and Compliance described the discovery as unfortunate and dangerous.
“The volume of the goods that expired is inestimable. Imagine a product that should be used in wrapping up a baby in 2017 has expired in 2015, what will be the effect on the baby, of course it would be negative reaction on the baby,” he said.
“We have baby powders that have expired since 2013 and four years after, the products are still going into the market. When they sell, they remove the expiry dates and put new dates to deceive the unsuspecting consumers and when you buy these products, you think they are products that can help you, not knowing that they are products that would cause you all sorts of diseases,” he added.
He further revealed Udeh had been arrested and would be prosecuted.
