Avoid substandard and fake diapers – Consumer Protection Agency cautions public
The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has advised the general public, especially mothers, to desist from using substandard or fake diapers for their children.
During a press briefing, the Chief Executive Officer of the CPA, Kofi Kapito, emphasised the severe health risks these substandard diapers pose to children.
“There are companies who intentionally bring in these fake diapers which don’t meet the standard so we are creating awareness to let parents know that the fact that the diaper is cheap doesn’t mean it is of good quality.
“Let us squeeze ourselves if we can because the cost to the parents might be more because they bought a cheap diaper because it may cause some internal illness for your child, which will cost you more to treat, and I am pleading with the public to be careful,” he noted.
Mr. Kapito also praised the FDA for their prompt and decisive action in removing these illegal products from the market to ensure consumer safety.
“I am happy that when the Food and Drugs Authority do their post-market inspection, it is able to identify that somebody brought in a product that is not even registered and so let us applaud the Authority,” he added.
Recently, the FDA warned manufacturers, importers, and distributors against importing unregistered, poor-quality, and unhygienically packaged baby diapers into the country.
The FDA, in a statement released on April 8, 2024, emphasised that unregistered packed baby diapers, popularly known as bale diapers, are not permitted into the country. Hence, the importation of such products will result in their seizure and safe disposal at a cost to the importer.
“FDA wishes to remind manufacturers, importers, and distributors of baby diapers that baby diapers, popularly known as bale diapers, are not permitted into the country. The importation of unregistered, poor quality, and unhygienically packaged baby diapers into the country will result in their seizure and safe disposal at a cost to the importer.
“The Authority has noted, with great concern, the continuing practice where disposable baby diapers are still imported into the country, either unhygienically packaged in bales or hidden in bales of used clothing. These baby diapers are subsequently repackaged and offered for sale without adequate label information or no labeling information at all.
“The public is to note that materials used for baby diapers are tested by the Authority during the product registration process. This ensures that any dyes, skin irritants, or toxins are absent so as not to cause harm to babies. In addition, handling of bale diapers, frequently re-packed and relabelled under insanitary conditions, can cause germs to enter the genital region of a child, especially a girl child, further posing great danger to their health and well-being,” excerpts of the statement read.
The FDA further urged the public to help ”protect babies from the risk of infections by buying only FDA-registered baby diapers”.