Affaire Softcare : Le ministre de la Santé recadre l'ARP
During a press conference held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Ibrahima Sy, affirmed that the brand's sanitary napkins and baby diapers pose no health risk to consumers.
This release was highly anticipated following the alert issued in early December 2025 by the Senegalese Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (ARP). The agency had reported the presence of expired raw materials in the manufacturing process of products intended for infants and women, causing significant concern among families. A product recall had even been considered before the ARP suspended its decision pending further investigation.
To shed light on this matter, the ministry ordered a thorough investigation conducted by the internal audit department, supported by an ad hoc inter-institutional committee. This committee was composed of representatives from the National Assembly, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The experts carried out document reviews, hearings, and a detailed inspection of the production site.
According to the findings presented by Dr. Ibrahima Sy, no scientific evidence establishes the actual use of expired raw materials in the manufacture of the marketed products. The investigation indicates, in particular, that the material in question—a perforated polyethylene film—was not incorporated into the production line due to a dimensional difference compared to the materials currently in use. The production and marketing data examined show no trace of products manufactured from this obsolete batch.
Administrative shortcomings, but no health risk
The report does, however, acknowledge a lapse in the company's storage management, linked to the physical presence of expired materials on the factory premises. Nevertheless, their fraudulent use has not been proven.
The minister also revealed that independent analyses, conducted in a reference laboratory in Germany, have confirmed that Softcare products comply with international standards. To date, no medical device vigilance alert or epidemiological study has established a link between these products and any health risk to users.
The committee's work highlights several major shortcomings in the ARP's inspection procedure. The minister deplored the lack of sampling at the time of the alert, inconsistencies in the inspection reports, and a withdrawal decision deemed disproportionate because it was made without prior testing of the finished products.
In conclusion, the Minister of Health reaffirmed that the Softcare products currently on the market are safe. He nevertheless emphasized the need to strengthen the regulatory framework governing the inspection of hygiene products in Senegal to prevent emotion from overriding scientific rigor in the future.
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