Accra, June 9, GNA - The management of Food and Drugs Board (FDB) on Wednesday destroyed 3,000 cartons of turkey tails valued at GH¢105,000 at the Saba land fill site in Accra.
Management of Diamond Food, importers of the illegal consignment, would bear the cost of the destruction and in addition pay a fine of between GH¢10,000 and GH¢20,000 yet to be determined by the Board. Head of Public Relations, James Lartey, told journalists that management had introduced punitive measures to deter others in the trade. He said management acting upon a tip-off quickly moved to the premises of the company at Kwashieman, an Accra suburb and kept surveillance until the destruction of the products had been carried out.
Mr Lartey said the ban on the importation of turkey tails had been in existence since 1991, but was re-enforced a few months ago due to its harmful effects on human beings such as cardiovascular diseases. He said so far 12,000 cartons of imported turkey tails had been destroyed and noted that information reaching the management of FDB indicated that the products were scarce on the market.
Mr Lartey said the post-market surveillance team of FDB was on constant inspection of cold stores that had the products, while their regional offices had also impounded quantities of the products. He pointed out that management of FDB in collaboration with CEPS and National Security would continue to be vigilant at the ports to ensure the market was rid of harmful products.
