FDB places temporary ban on adverts on drugs

Accra, Aug. 30, GNA - The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) announced on Wednesday that it had placed a temporary ban on the advertisement of drugs, herbal medicines and any product that were claimed to be for the cure or management of any disease.

A statement signed in Accra by Mr Emmanuel Agyarko, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), said the ban would take effect from September 1, 2006

It said the Board had observed with great concern the misleading nature of some advertisements, unsubstantiated and false claims made through these adverts.

The statement said these practices continued despite the several interventions by the Board, which had included disclaimers, education campaigns, media workshops, arrests and prosecutions jointly undertaken by the Board and the Police.

The statement said in as much as the Board recognized that manufacturers, media houses and advertisers generated revenue from advertisement, it must be noted that drugs should not be treated as ordinary articles of commerce but that public health and safety should be given the ultimate consideration.

=93The Board, therefore, wishes to bring to the attention of manufacturers; media houses; importers; distributors and wholesalers of these regulated products; herbal clinics; centres; stakeholders and the general public that as from 1st September 2006, a temporary ban comes into effect on all advertisements of drugs, herbal medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, household chemicals as well as bitters that make claims for cure, preventions or management of any disease.

The statement said during the period of the temporary ban, it would in collaboration with research institutions and the Advertisers Association of Ghana, among other measures; organize massive educative programmes for the media and other stakeholders to ensure maximum compliance when the ban was lifted.

The Board warned all manufacturers and marketers of the regulated products, the media particularly FM stations and the general public that it would not take kindly to anyone who flouted the directive, which was aimed at ensuring public health and safety.

Mr Agyarko said product licence holders were required to use other evidence-based approaches in promoting their products with the view to building confidence and ensuring integration of traditional and other natural health care.