The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned Nigerians to avoid falsified Type 1 and 2 batches of POSTINOR 2 products, also known as Levonorgestrel 0.75mg, currently in circulation.

NAFDAC’s warning was contained in a public alert, on Saturday, titled, “Alert on Confirmed Counterfeit Postinor2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) in Nigeria.”

The agency stated that the identified product became a concern following a report from the Society of Family Health (SFH), which confirmed that the company did not import the falsified products.

NAFDAC noted that the difference in the falsified products include wrong spelling and smaller appearance of the pin verification sticker, wrongly written as ‘Veify.’

The word ‘distributed’ was also wrongly spelt as ‘Distnibuted’ on the fake products.

NAFDAC said Postinor2, medically known as Levonorgestrel 0.75mg, is a brand of emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) containing the active ingredient levonorgestrel.

Advising the public to take due notice of the original Postinor2 product, NAFDAC stated that the original details of the batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date and NAFDAC registration number are as follows; T32458H, 02/2023, 02/2027 and 04-6985, respectively.

Highlighting the difference, NAFDAC described the first counterfeit product type as having a contrary batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date and NAFDAC registration number details as follows; T36184B, 08/2024, 08/2028 and 04-6985, respectively.

The second fake type of Postinor2 product has a contrary batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date and NAFDAC registration number details as follows; 332, 03/2023, 02/2027 and 04-6985, respectively.

The agency said the “risks of administering falsified Postinor 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) include failure of contraceptive effect, toxic or harmful contaminants, unpredictable side effects, delayed or missed opportunity for genuine emergency contraception, and potential long-term reproductive health impact.”

It urged Nigerians to obtain Postinor-2 from verified pharmacies or licensed healthcare providers, stating that investigations were ongoing to determine the source of the falsified products.

NAFDAC stated, “All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the falsified product of type 1 and 2 postinor 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) within the zones and states.”

The agency called on distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals and caregivers to be cautious in the supply chain to prevent the distribution, sale and use of unhealthy and falsified products.