Food and Drugs Board to get tough on radio stations on adverts
The Foods and Drugs Board (FDB), had warned Radio Stations not to broadcast unapproved adverts and unregistered products, and that; defaulters would be fined GH¢ 20,000, as stipulated by law.
The Head of the Central Region Office of the Board, Mr Joseph Bennie, who issued the warning on Tuesday, said all products as required by the foods and drugs law must be registered by the Board and therefore FM stations that fail to comply would be sanctioned.
He mentioned among others that drugs advertised must be approved by the Board, saying that, the law prohibits adverts, which claims cures for diseases such as hypertension, cancer, AIDS, blindness and diabetes.
At a media interaction to announce the opening of an office in the Region on Tuesday, Mr Bennie said the prime objective of the Board was to ensure the safety, as well as, the quality of products and the efficacy of drugs to protect the consumer.
Mr Bennie expressed concern about the unsanitary conditions under which most herbal medicine and food sold to the public were prepared and indicated that it would not hesitate to close down such premises during its inspection tours in the Region.
The Regional Head said the Board was not against herbal medicine per se, but were concerned about the conditions under which they were prepared and packaged since its contamination could affect the health of the public.
“We are not in to harass producers of herbal medicine or food operators but to ensure that the right thing was done”, he declared.
He said formerly, the Western Region office had an oversight responsibility over the Central Region but since the Metropolis had its own office in Cape Coast about a month ago, the Board had discovered a large number of expired products on the shelves of most stores in the Central Region.
He said the FDB would ensure that consumers were fully protected.
Mr Bennie appealed to the public to be vigilant and examine products to find out its authenticity and expiry dates to avoid patronising fake and expired products.
Food vendors on school premises would be its next target, he revealed, adding that, those found wanting would be sacked from the schools to safeguard the health of students and pupils.
The Head of Communications of the FDB, Mr James Lartey, said it was the responsibility of the Board to ensure public health and safety and considering the high rate with which fake products had found its way to the Ghanaian market, it would act fast to clamp down on all fake producers and dealers of consumable products.
He urged the public not to read politics into their work because it was for the good of all to stop the few, who want to enrich themselves at the expense of the health of the people.
Source: GNA