FDA to clamp down on unlicensed water producers

By Alice Tettey, GNA
Cape Coast, July 31, GNA - The Central Regional Directorate of Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA), has given unlicensed packed-water producers in the region an ultimatum to register with the Authority or face the full rigours of the law.

According to the Authority, it had received information that some water producers carry out their activities at night, weekends and public holidays to outwit the FDA and had urged such people to regularise their operations by mid-August to avoid arrest and prosecution.

Mr Kingsley Nsiah-Poku, Regional Head of the FDA, gave the ultimatum at a training workshop in Cape Coast.

The four-day workshop organised by the Authority for 200 managers and supervisors from 100 packed-water companies across the region is aimed among others to educate the producers on the Public Health, 2012 (Act 851).

Other topics include good hygienic practices, good management practices, pest management and documentation.

He said the Authority would not countenance the activities of any unlicensed producer and urged the public to be vigilant and report suspected unlicensed water producers to help safeguard public health.

Mr Nsiah-Poku gave the assurance that the identity of informants would be protected.

He said having a Ghana Standards Authority logo on products does not mean it had been registered and warned those who pirate the manufacturing rolls of popular packed-waterbrands to stop the practice because the FDA is going all out to get them.

He explained that before a product would be registered, the manufacturer's premises must be inspected and licensed by the Authority, whilst the product must go through laboratory tests among other documentation processes.

Mr Nsiah-Poku urged the public to be mindful of what they consume and also guard against unwholesome products to protect their health.

He said expired food and drug products purchased must not be returned but sent to the FDA offices for the possible refund of their monies as such items would to be used as evidence against the owners of shops who put the health of unsuspecting consumers at risk.

He said the FDA would continue to undertake its routine, unannounced and emergency checks to rid unwholesome products from the market and called for the support of all to make the exercise worthwhile.

He advised the participants to be very alert and work to protect the image of their companies by ensuring the wellbeing of the consumer through the production of safe, hygienic drinking water.

GNA