The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) last Friday destroyed 500 bales of substandard baby diapers valued at GH¢3 million, at its recycle plant at Ashiaman, near Tema.
The destruction of the two 40-footer containers diapers, which were seized from the markets at Kasoa, in the Central Region, Tema in Greater Accra and the Central Business District of Accra, was to ensure safety of consumers.
The Head of Enforcement Directorate of the FDA, Vigil Edward Prah-Ashun, told journalists that the use of substandard and unregistered diaperscould lead to infertility in the girl-child, cancer of the manhood of the boy-child and chronic skin rashes.
He said last year, the FDA, Ghana Standard Authority and the Custom Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), issued a joint press statement, to caution the public against the importation of substandard diapers in the country.
Mr Prah-Ashun stated that business entitiesdealing in diapers, were givenup to December, last year, to regularise their operations.
He said the FDA monitored the market, and investigations revealed that there were influx of substandard diapers in the country.
Mr Prah-Ashun said the FDA seized substandard diapers from the market, for safe disposal, and explained that the operation was to ensure that children, who use the diapers do not have health implications.
“The use of such diapers can lead to the development of infertility in the girl-child, cancer of the testis in the boy-child, and chronic skin rashes. We as regulators, think this is not proper, and as part of our mandate to protect public health and safety, we have to make sure that we clear the market of such diapers,” Mr Prah-Ashun said.
He said the FDA retrieved two 40-footer containers of such diapers from the market, and advised the public not to purchase substandard diapers and the ones exposed to the weather.
“There is a higher tendency of infections, and those that are not properly labelled do not meet our standard. I will therefore advise the public to take note of these things,” Mr Prah-Ashun noted.
He said the FDA disposed the baby diapers because “we are shredding them so that no one can have access to them.”
Mr Prah-Ashun said the exercise would be sustained, and urged the public to corporate with the FDA in ensuring the safety of the consuming public.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI