The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has issued a public alert over the circulation of falsified Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) emergency contraceptive pills across Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday, NAFDAC said the counterfeit products, identified as Type 1 and Type 2 falsified batches, were discovered after the Society for Family Health, the authorised importer, confirmed it did not import the consignments.
The agency noted that the fake packs displayed clear errors, including a misspelt verification sticker reading “Veify” instead of “Verify” and an incorrectly printed phrase, “Distnibuted in Nigeria,” on the back of the pack.
According to NAFDAC, the original products have clearer fonts and correct spellings.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) hereby notifies the public of falsified Type 1 and 2 batches of POSTINOR 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) product in circulation.
“The noticeable difference was found to be as follows: The font size of the text on the pin verification sticker appears smaller and has a wrong spelling of the word Veify instead of Verify on the fake; meanwhile, the text font on the sticker of the original appears bigger and more visible. There is also a wrong spelling behind the pack of the fake “Distnibuted in Nigeria” instead of distributed in Nigeria”, NAFDAC said.
The agency confirmed that the two counterfeit versions in circulation are: Counterfeit Product (Type 1), Batch T36184B, manufactured in August 2024 with an expiry date of August 2028; and Counterfeit Product (Type 2), Batch 332, manufactured in March 2023 with an expiry date of February 2027. Both carry the registration number 04-6985.
NAFDAC warned that these falsified pills may contain harmful or incorrect ingredients, improper levonorgestrel dosages, and could have been produced under unsafe conditions, posing serious health risks.
The agency highlighted that the dangers of using the counterfeit products include contraceptive failure, exposure to toxic contaminants, unpredictable side effects, and long-term reproductive health complications.
Unknown substances in the fakes could also trigger allergic reactions, organ damage, or even death.
NAFDAC stressed that counterfeit medicines are unregulated, untested, and illegal, making their safety and effectiveness impossible to guarantee.
It urged consumers to obtain Postinor-2 only from licensed pharmacies or healthcare providers.
Investigations are ongoing to trace the source of the falsified products. Meanwhile, zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to conduct surveillance and remove the fake batches nationwide.
Consumers and healthcare providers were also advised to carefully examine PIN stickers, report suspected counterfeit products, and always purchase medicines from verified sources.