NAFDAC Alerts Public Over Fake Postinor-2 Pills Circulating in Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public warning about the circulation of counterfeit Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) emergency contraceptive pills in Nigeria, urging consumers and healthcare providers to exercise caution.

In a statement released on August 22, 2025, NAFDAC said investigations by the product’s Marketing Authorization Holder, the Society for Family Health (SFH), revealed batches of Postinor-2 in circulation that were not imported by the company and are therefore fake.

The agency identified two types of counterfeit products: Type 1 with batch number T36184B, manufactured in August 2024 and expiring in August 2028, and Type 2 with batch number 332, manufactured in March 2023 and expiring in February 2027.

NAFDAC also highlighted visual discrepancies in the packaging, including smaller font sizes on pin verification stickers and misspellings such as “Veify” instead of “Verify” and “Distnibuted in Nigeria” instead of “Distributed in Nigeria.”

The agency warned that these falsified products could contain incorrect or harmful ingredients, improper doses of levonorgestrel, and may be manufactured under non-sterile conditions, posing serious risks to health and safety. Risks include contraceptive failure, toxic contamination, unpredictable side effects, and potential long-term reproductive health impacts.

NAFDAC has instructed all zonal directors and state coordinators to remove counterfeit Postinor-2 products from circulation. The public, distributors, retailers, and healthcare professionals are urged to obtain the medicine only from licensed suppliers and to verify its authenticity before use.

Suspected cases of substandard or falsified medicines can be reported to the nearest NAFDAC office, via the toll-free line 0800-162-3322, or email sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng. Adverse reactions related to the product can also be reported through NAFDAC’s e-reporting platforms or the Med-Safety mobile app available on Android and iOS.