Nigeria NGO petitions regulators over chemicals in sanitary pads

The She Mission Initiatives, a women-focused non-governmental organisation, has petitioned Nigeria’s 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) regarding safety concerns over disposable sanitary pads.

The petition, dated September 28, 2026, calls for an immediate nationwide post-market audit and laboratory testing of both locally manufactured and imported sanitary pads. The action follows a 2024 scientific study published in the Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, which assessed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sanitary pads sold in Nigeria.

Researchers from the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Nigerian Air Force Academy examined 65 samples from popular brands. The study reportedly identified up to 34 VOCs, with 17 specific compounds confirmed across 16 major brands. Among the detected substances was 1,2-dichloropropane, which has been associated with toxic or carcinogenic classifications under high-exposure models. The NGO expressed concerns regarding potential skin irritation, hormonal disruption, and other long-term health implications due to the direct contact between these products and the skin.