Retailers asked to practice 'First Expired First Out' principle

Mr Sabastian Mawuli Hotor, the Upper East Regional Director of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has advised retailers in the Region to practice good storage and stocking practices.

He said such as practice known as “First Expired First Out (FEFO)” would be to rid the market of unwholesome products.

He explained that products near expiration dates should be arranged in front of shelves while those with later dates of expiration be arranged behind to easily notice expired products for appropriate action.

Mr Hotor gave the advice when he addressed the media at Pumpuugu, a community at Sherigu in the Bolgatanga Municipality after his outfit destroyed some unwholesome regulated products valued at an estimated cost of Gh¢ 203, 181.64.

He urged members of the public to check for expiry dates and registration status of products before buying and insisted that regulated products be purchased from accredited and recognized sources to ensure the safety of members of the public.

“Public health and safety is our prime objective, and our activities are always geared towards providing assurance of safe food, drugs, cosmetics, household chemicals, medical devices, and all other regulated products in Ghana,” he emphasized.

Mr Hotor said the FDA during its routine Post Market Surveillance activities in the Region confiscated several unwholesome products such as food products and supplements, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, herbal medicines, and household chemicals from the market over the past one year.

The Regional Director indicated that the purpose of the exercise was to rid the market of expired, counterfeit, contaminated, unregistered, and all other kinds of unwholesome regulated products on the market.

He added that the exercise was to prevent the potential re-entry of those unwholesome regulated products into the supply chain, and said the disposal consignments were seized from provisions shops, Over the Counter Chemical shops, pharmacies, warehouses, herbal clinics, cosmetic shops and open markets across all 15 districts of the Region.

Mr Hotor further called on members of the public to: “Report anybody selling expired, unregistered and unwholesome products to the FDA via the following media platforms; WhatsApp 0206973065, Facebook @ Food and Drugs Authority Ghana, Twitter @gh_fda, Instagram@ Food and Drugs Authority Ghana.”

He said the FDA could also be contacted through the hotlines; 0299802932/0299802933 or SMS to 4015.

The Director acknowledged the collaboration of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental and Sanitation Agency, the Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Police Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Pharmacy Council, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, Ghana Health Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and other stakeholders who complement efforts of the FDA to execute its mandate.

Mr Hotor urged the general public to continue to observe all protocols from the Ghana Health Service towards the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.