A week-long market surveillance exercise by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has resulted in the seizure of 4,504 unregistered, counterfeit, and potentially hazardous cosmetic products across 15 regions of Ghana.
The operation targeted supermarkets, cosmetic shops, and retail outlets as part of efforts to protect consumers from the dangers of unregistered cosmetic products containing harmful substances such as hydroquinone and steroids.
The exercise, conducted by the FDA’s Regional Operations Directorate, led to the confiscation of thousands of products nationwide.
The exercise comes on the back of repeated warnings by the Authority against the use of cosmetic products containing hydroquinone and steroids, which can cause severe skin damage, discolouration, and other serious health complications if used for a long period.
The FDA reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health through sustained market surveillance and enforcement measures. It also urged consumers to purchase cosmetics only from licensed outlets and to verify the registration status of products before use.
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