A women-focused non-governmental organisation, The She Mission Initiatives, 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) to investigate the presence of chemicals in sanitary pads sold in Nigeria. The petition, dated September 28, 2026, cites a 2024 study that found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in popular sanitary pad brands. The study examined 65 samples from 16 major brands and identified up to 34 VOCs.
The organisation's petition urges the regulators to conduct post-market audits and lab tests on sanitary pads manufactured locally and abroad. The study, published in the Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, detected compounds such as 1,2-dichloropropane, which has been associated with carcinogenic or toxic classifications. The NGO expressed concerns about possible skin irritation, hormonal disruption, and long-term health implications due to prolonged skin contact with sanitary pads.
The She Mission Initiatives' Executive Director, Pearllie Orji, stated that the organisation had placed the agencies on notice over the concerns raised by the report. The petition calls on NAFDAC, SON, and FCCPC to independently investigate the study through nationwide sampling and laboratory analysis. The organisation demands that the agencies conduct immediate market sampling and testing of all major local and imported sanitary pad brands being sold in Nigeria.
The organisation also requested that the regulators publish detailed information on the current safety limits applicable to chemical substances in sanitary pads and provide public reassurance on the safety of menstrual hygiene products available in the country. They asked the agencies to suspend, recall, and confiscate any sanitary pad brand found to exceed applicable international safety thresholds for toxic chemical residues.
The NGO further demanded mandatory laboratory screening for VOCs, phthalates, and heavy metals as a prerequisite for registering and clearing menstrual hygiene products. The organisation served Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on NAFDAC and SON, seeking access to regulatory and laboratory records concerning sanitary pads. The FOI requests sought certified copies of regulatory frameworks, maximum residue limits, and laboratory safety audits.
The organisation's action aims to compel the regulatory authorities to independently verify the claims contained in the 2024 study and establish whether sanitary pads currently circulating in the Nigerian market comply with applicable safety standards. Orji stated that women and girls are entitled to transparency concerning the safety of products they use regularly. The organisation cited provisions of the NAFDAC Act, SON Act 2015, and FCCPC Act 2018 as imposing responsibilities on the respective agencies to regulate product safety and protect consumers.
The petitioners' action now puts the three regulatory bodies in a position to respond to the concerns raised by the study and disclose the extent of their existing surveillance and testing of sanitary pads in the Nigerian market. The organisation's demands highlight the need for stricter regulations and monitoring of menstrual hygiene products in Nigeria.
Key points
- The She Mission Initiatives has petitioned NAFDAC, SON, and FCCPC to investigate the presence of chemicals in sanitary pads sold in Nigeria.
- A 2024 study found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in popular sanitary pad brands.
- The organisation demands mandatory laboratory screening for VOCs, phthalates, and heavy metals for menstrual hygiene products.
