25th October 2024 9:35:45 AM
2 mins readThe Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has directed all food service establishments to secure the Authority's approval for any advertisements across media platforms by December 1, 2024.
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According to the FDA, any food service company advertising products without this approval is in violation of its Guidelines for the Advertisement of Regulated Products and Section 100 (2) of the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851.
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In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Madam Delese Mimi Darko, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, the FDA emphasized the legal requirement, noting that "A person shall not advertise food unless the advertisement has been approved by the Authority."
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The statement continued, citing Section 129 of Act 851, which specifies that individuals breaching these provisions face severe penalties, including “a fine of not less than 7,500 penalty units and not more than 15,000 penalty units, or imprisonment for a term of not less than 15 years and not more than 25 years, or both.”
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The FDA warned that it would strictly enforce these measures to protect public health and safety.
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The FDA outlined that "Food Service Establishment" includes businesses involved in storing, preparing, packaging, or serving food for human consumption, such as restaurants, bakeries, canteens, online food businesses, institutional catering, and fast-food outlets. The statement added that advertisements aligning with the FDA’s guidelines for various media platforms, including billboards, social media, and other below-the-line mediums, require the Authority's approval, which is valid for one year and must be renewed.
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The FDA also reminded live media presenters advertising FDA-regulated products to adhere strictly to scripts approved by the Authority.
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In a separate alert, the public was advised to report affected batches of Benylin Paediatric Syrup to any FDA office. The FDA expressed appreciation for public cooperation in ensuring regulatory compliance to safeguard public health and safety.
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