The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) have advised the public to purchase only registered baby diapers that are properly packaged and labelled to safeguard infants against infections and other health risks.
The three regulatory bodies also reminded manufacturers, importers and distributors that only baby diapers registered by the FDA and compliant with the Ghana Standard (GS 1166:2017) are permitted to be imported and sold in the country.
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In a joint statement issued in Accra, the agencies said all registered baby diapers must be securely packaged and properly sealed to protect them from moisture, contamination, damage and soiling throughout transportation, storage and distribution.
They warned that any unregistered or unhygienically packaged baby diapers imported into Ghana would be seized and safely disposed of at the importer’s expense.
The agencies expressed concern over an emerging practice in which disposable baby diapers are imported in unhygienic bales or concealed within consignments of used clothing before being repackaged for sale without adequate or any labelling.
According to the statement, such practices violate Ghana’s regulatory requirements and fail to meet the packaging and labelling standards outlined in Ghana Standard GS 1166:2017.
The FDA explained that the materials used in registered baby diapers undergo safety assessments during the product registration process to ensure they are suitable for use by infants.
It cautioned that the Authority could not guarantee the safety of unregistered diapers or determine whether they contained harmful substances such as toxins, dyes or skin irritants.
The statement further warned that repeated handling of diapers under unsanitary conditions could introduce germs that may cause infections in babies, particularly affecting the genital area.
The agencies therefore urged consumers to verify that baby diapers are FDA-registered, properly packaged and correctly labelled before purchasing them, in order to protect the health and well-being of infants and young children.
