FDA gets tough on advertisers

The Food and Drugs Authority (FAD) has reemphasized its resolve to enforce the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851, which controls advertisement on regulated products.

The authority said it would ensure that defaulters of the requirement for advertisement pay the penalty of GHc 25, 000 or are prosecuted.

“Notwithstanding the above, the authority reserve the right to revoke approval as a result of new evidence concerning product or public safety or product efficacy or quality,” the authority said during a stakeholders’ meeting on advertisement of drugs, cosmetics, household chemical substances and medical devices.

The day’s meeting, attended by advertising agencies, media regulatory bodies, producers and marketers of regulated products in the Greater Accra Region, gave participants the opportunity to further understand the provisions of the Act and FDA guidelines on advertisement of regulated products.

Hudu Mogtari, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the FDA, opening the meeting, said the FDA had over the years faced challenges in enforcing the law because of the lack of adequate knowledge on its mandates and activities.

He said in spite of the above regulations, the authority had noticed that a lot of media houses were going contrary to the regulations.

The meeting was, therefore, to help stakeholders better understand the work of the FDA so they could support one another to work to ensure accurate information to the public and avoid deception.

“We are here not to stop any bodies business but to enforce the law for all to benefit,” he said.

Public Health Act 851

Thomas Amedzro, Head of Drug Enforcement Department, FDA, said according to Sub Section 114 of Act 851, a drug, herbal medical products, cosmetic, medical device cannot be advertised unless it has been approved by the authority.

“Diseases for which advertisement for treatment, prevention or cure are prohibited includes sexually transmitted diseases, other forms of genitor-urinary diseases, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or diseases connected with the human reproductive functions,” he said.

Media Support

Isabella Agra of the Food Inspectorate Division called for the media to take interest in the activities of the FDA to enhance their work.