[ 2021-03-14 ]

FDA calls on media to help flush out unregistered products from market
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) says it is
counting on the support of the media, especially
radio and television stations, to help flush out
unapproved consumable items from the market.

To this end, it is urging the media to consider it
as a social and civic responsibilities in
disallowing people from advertising products which
have not been duly approved by the FDA on their
media platforms to safeguard public safety.

Mrs. Akua Amponsaa Owusu, the FDA Regional
Director responsible for Bono, Bono East and Ahafo
regions, at a media briefing in Sunyani, cautioned
operators of radio stations to desist from running
Live Presenter Mentions (LPMs) and other forms of
advertisements on any food or drug which have not
been sanctioned by the FDA.

She said the health and safety of the general
publc was paramount to government and its
agencies, adding that “the FDA has a direct
responsibility to safeguard the health and safety
of the people of Ghana.”

Strict adherence required

“As part of regulating products to ensure their
safety, quality, good performance and efficacy,
the FDA ensures that the content of an
advertisement is vetted and approved to ensure
that the information on the product is accurate to
provide the consumer with the required information
to make informed choices. In effect, outrageous
exaggerations, half-truths, outright lies, and
disparaging materials are disallowed”, she
explained.

She stated that the Public Health Act (Act 851)
prohibits the practice where food is advertised as
a preventive or cure for a disease, disorder or an
abnormal physical state. “Sometimes, ordinary
drinks are portrayed as drugs which can cure all
kinds of health challenges such as sexual
weakness, waist pain, menstrual pains and several
others but in reality, it is just an ordinary
drink without any approved medicinal

Collaboration

She called for a closer collaboration between the
media and the FDA, especially on “Consumer
Education” saying “Regulation is a shared
responsibility. The consumer needs to be empowered
with relevant knowledge to make decisions as to
what to buy, when to inform the Regulator of a
non- compliance, etc. FDA can't do it all alone.
You can craft messages to your listeners to
support the work that FDA does.”

The other area she called for collaboration was in
the area of Market Surveillance, which she
explained ensured that regulated products in shops
and other outlets are wholesome. “We interact
with retailers etc. and educate them on issues
including storage to preserve the quality of the
items. In this area, we also expect to collaborate
with the media to ensure that wholesalers,
distributors, retailers, etc. are well informed so
as to ensure that they deal only in regulated
products.”

Source - Joyfm

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