The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians on fake Kiss Condoms already in circulation in major markets across the country.
The agency stated in a statement on its website, that it was informed about the fake Kiss brand of condoms by DKT International Nigeria, a leading non-governmental organisation (NGO) involved in contraceptive social marketing and HIV/AIDS prevention.
“The fake Kiss condoms have been reported to be found in Onitsha Market, Idumota Market, Trade Fair Market, and various markets in Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe, Enugu, and others,” the statement reads.
NAFDAC warned that the counterfeit versions pose serious health risks due to poor quality, lack of sterilisation, inadequate lubrication, wrong labelling and the absence of regulatory compliance.
The agency further stated that the use of fake condoms increases the risk of breakage, infections, allergic reactions and ineffective protection, giving users a false sense of safety.
It added that the counterfeit product differed significantly from the authentic Kiss condoms in packaging, labelling, colour shade, manufacturer address details, absence of medical device information, incomplete caution instructions and generally poor-quality condom structure.
On Original Kiss Condoms
Giving details on original Kiss Condoms, NAFDAC declared, “there are instructions on the lower part of the pack.”
It added that the details on the pack include “Please read the instructions carefully,” and “Single-use only. If reused, there might be an increased risk of failure or infection.”
NAFDAC revealed that additional information on the lower part of the box pack included “the device is a medical device”, “MDSS GmbH”, and “Schiffgraben 41, 30175 Hannover, Germany.”
It added that here is also an image of a condom with the following statements written in English and French: “Natural coloured unscented straight-walled, teat-ended, natural rubber latex condoms with non-spermicidal lubricant. 52 mm nominal width.”
It gave the verified address on the pack as Plot 4, Block E. Isolo Industrial Layout, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, with storage and caution information.
NAFDAC further informed that on the original condom pack, the colour of the pack is light red, with “Kiss” closely written on six lines.
“The original wallet outer is a lighter red pack with a verified address in Oshodi-Apapa and a manufacturer’s address.
“Description beside image of condom includes, “Natural colored, unscented, straight-walled, teat-ended, and natural rubber latex condoms.
“On the hidden flap, there is a date “REV: 06|11/2023” and a description that reads, “this is a medical device” with “MDSS GmbH (address).” The hidden flap also contains caution information.
“The inner side of the original wallet contains detailed instructions, important notes and eight bullet points,” it was added.
On Counterfeit Kiss Condoms
NAFDAC also gave further insights to fake Kiss Condoms, noting that on the fake or counterfeit pack, there is no additional information on the side of the box.
“The box is darker in colour. The picture on the box is darker in colour. The inside of some of the boxes is plain white. No condom image,” the agency stated.
It added that the address, 42, Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos, on the pack is wrong and not recognised, adding that “the manufacturer’s address is incomplete. No storage and caution information.”
On the fake or counterfeit condom pack, NAFDAC revealed “the colour of the pack is darker than the original pack” and “Kiss is loosely written on 5 lines.”
It also stated that “there is a lot of space between each line” and “the condom strip is longer than the original.”
“For the fake or counterfeit wallet-outer, it has a darker red pack with an unrecognised address reading ’42 Montgomery Road, Yaba’. The wallet does not carry a manufacturer’s address.
“The description beside the image of the condom includes ‘transparent, straight-walled, teat-ended, and natural rubber latex condoms’,” NAFDAC added.
The agency also disclosed that the colour wave found on the original pack was absent on the fake pack.
“There is no information on the hidden flap, and there is an inconsistency in the barcode lines (barcode traceability), with a missing medical device information and no caution information,” it added.
