FDB warns against illegal adverts on herbal products

The Upper West Regional Directorate of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has asked some manufacturers of herbal products to stop their advertisement on the radio stations in the region since a lot of their product are not registered with the board.

In a strongly worded letter signed by the acting Upper West regional director of the FDB, Mr. Gordon Akurugu to the manufactures of the herbal drugs and copied to all local radio stations in the region stated ‘‘your company had been carrying out advertisement of numerous herbal products on various radio station especially Radio Upper West and making claims of using medical device for medical diagnosis’’.

Mr. Akrugu further said the acts contravenes section 3, 14 and 18 of food and drugs law, PNDCL305B which states ‘‘A person commits an offence if that manufacturer, labels, package, sells or advertise a food, drugs cosmetic, medical device or chemical substance in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive as regards its character, nature, value, additives, substance, potency quality, composition, merit or safety’’.

Section 15 of prohibited advertisement also states a person shall not advertise drugs (herbal), cosmetic, medical device, and a chemical substance to the general public as treatment, prevention or cure for a disease, disorder or an abnormal physical state specific in the schedule II. On section 18 of the registration of products,(1) he further stated ‘‘A person shall not manufacture, prepare, sell , supply, export or import a food, drugs cosmetic, medical device, chemical substance unless the article has been registered with the board’’.

Mr. Akurugu penciled St. Francis herbal center, Rakson herbal centre, Bahas herbal centre and Dr.Heavens through Wongwaana Pharmacy as some of the culprits.

He warned them to desist from associating FDB in any form in the advertisement of their products and also visit their offices to regularize their products and adverts. He stated any failure to comply will be in contravention to PNDCL 305B section 9 or 26 and will attract the appropriate sanctions.