post

Breaking News, World News, Ghana News, Sports, Business, Innovation, Climate, Culture, Travel, Video

NSEM

<h1 class="wp-block-heading"></h1>



The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has imposed a fine of GH¢100,000 on Lamens Investments Africa Limited for serious regulatory violations related to the handling of Moshosho Rice imported from India. 



The penalty follows an investigation into the alleged re-bagging of approximately 22,000 bags of 50kg rice, which were falsely labeled as “Made in Ghana.”



The investigation revealed that the rice bags failed to include critical information such as manufacturing and expiration dates, thus breaching Ghanaian laws. 



The FDA’s findings confirmed that Lamens Investments re-bagged the rice without obtaining the necessary prior approval, a crucial step to ensure product integrity and compliance with safety standards.



In a statement, the FDA outlined the regulatory breaches committed by Lamens Investments: “Re-bagging the rice without prior FDA approval, conducting re-bagging operations in an unlicensed facility, and failing to ensure FDA supervision during the re-bagging process.”



It is important to note that the fine is not related to the quality of the rice, which had passed rigorous laboratory analyses. 



Tests conducted by reputable institutions in both India and Ghana, including the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), confirmed that the rice met safety standards. 







However, the mishandling of the product by the importer violated established protocols aimed at protecting public health.



Additionally, the FDA recently approved an extension of the rice&#8217;s “best before” date from December 20, 2023, to April 30, 2024, following a thorough scientific evaluation. 



However, the authority rejected a further extension to December 2024, citing insufficient stability data.



The FDA also addressed public concerns regarding its policy of accepting partial payments for administrative fines, clarifying that this approach helps ensure regulatory actions proceed without delay while maintaining accountability.



Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding public health, the FDA emphasized the importance of such enforcement actions in maintaining trust within the food supply chain.



 “We will continue to uphold the highest standards, taking decisive actions to protect public health and safety,” the FDA stated.

BROWSE

Advertisement

Expired Rice Saga: FDA Fines Lamens Investments GH¢100,000 for Regulatory Violations

Tags:

AUTHOR: Perpetual Tweneboah Koduah

About us

Explore

Resources

Discover

Connect