The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Ashanti Region has cautioned media houses and manufacturers against advertising unapproved products, stressing that no product should be promoted without prior authorisation.
Speaking at a media training workshop for senior journalists and news editors in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Director, Nathaniel Nana Nkrumah, emphasised that product registration must precede any form of advertisement.
He noted that the FDA is responsible for approving all advertising content, including wording and claims, to ensure accuracy and protect consumers.
Mr Nkrumah cited key provisions of the Food and Drugs laws, including Section 100(1) on food, Section 114(1) on cosmetics and household chemicals, and Section 148, which prohibits deceptive advertising.
He further explained that FDA registration, which is valid for one to two years, plays a critical role in maintaining fairness and standards within the market.
The Regional Director also highlighted categories of products that are prohibited from advertisement. These include tobacco products, infant formulas, prescription-only medicines for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, as well as homoeopathic medicines and products associated with male sexual enhancement.
He added that advertisements must not target vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, or lactating mothers, nor promote treatments for serious diseases including HIV, Hepatitis B, epilepsy, and leprosy.
On alcoholic beverages, Mr Nkrumah clarified that no alcohol product has been approved as an aphrodisiac, noting that all such products are registered strictly as beverages.
He revealed that the FDA has a dedicated monitoring team and will soon embark on enforcement exercises to ensure media houses comply with the regulations.
The warning underscores the Authority’s commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring responsible advertising practices across the country.
