The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has directed that all food service establishments in Ghana must obtain FDA approval for their advertisements across media platforms by December 1, 2024.
The FDA emphasized that any business advertising food products without valid approval would be in breach of its Guidelines for the Advertisement of Regulated Products and Section 100 (2) of the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851, which strictly prohibits unapproved food advertisements.
In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Madam Delese Mimi Darko, the Authority said the violators risk summary conviction and could face fines between 7,500 and 15,000 penalty units. In more severe cases, offenders could be sentenced to imprisonment for 15 to 25 years or receive both penalties.
“The Authority will rigorously enforce these provisions to safeguard public health and safety,” the statement stressed, signaling the FDA’s strong stance on upholding advertising standards in the food industry.
The FDA outlined that food service establishments, including restaurants, bakeries, canteens, online food vendors, institutional catering services, and fast-food outlets, must strictly adhere to this directive.
Advertisements intended for billboards, social media, and below-the-line media, it said, must meet the FDA Advertisement Guidelines and be pre-approved. Notably, each approved advertisement is valid for a year and requires renewal for continued display.
Media presenters who engage in the advertisement and promotion of FDA-regulated food products are also instructed to adhere strictly to scripts approved by the Authority. Any deviation from these approved scripts could result in penalties, underscoring the FDA’s commitment to ensuring public health standards in advertising are not compromised.
In addition to enforcing advertisement guidelines, the FDA has cautioned the public about the affected lot of Benylin Paediatric Syrup, urging anyone who comes across it to report to any FDA office nationwide. This approach aims to protect consumers, especially vulnerable groups such as children, from potentially harmful products.
The FDA expressed gratitude to businesses and the general public for their cooperation in upholding these standards, emphasizing that these regulations are for the collective benefit of public health and safety.
