Concern has been voiced by Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) regarding the retail sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as vapes and other tobacco products that do not contain nicotine, as well as the marketing of these products and their use for recreational purposes.
Diseases caused by vapes by the release of the FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlighted in a news release that vapes containing nicotine are highly addictive and can lead to major health disorders such as cancer, heart disease, lung illness, infertility, diabetes, and gum disease.
These are just some of the conditions that can be caused by vaping nicotine. Nevertheless, ENDS has the potential to be licenced as a drug that is available exclusively with a doctor’s prescription for the treatment of smoking cessation.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wanted to remind people that it is against the law to sell electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), vapes, and other items that do not contain nicotine, and that doing so is also against Regulation 16 of the Tobacco Control Regulations 2016 (L.I. 2247).
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Regulations prohibiting the sale of these goods
It is stipulated in Part Six, Sections 61 (2) and 62(1) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (ACT 851), as well as Regulation 16 of the Tobacco Control Regulations, 2016, (L. I. 2247), that the following must be observed:
Section 61 (2): A person shall not sell, display for sale, supply, advertise a non-tobacco product or service that contains, either on the product, or in an advertisement of the product, a writing, a picture, an image, graphics, message, or other matter that is commonly identified or associated with or is likely or intended or associated with a tobacco product, brand or manufacturer.
Section 62 (1) (b): A person shall not package, label or offer for sale a product that looks like or is likely to be identified with or associated with tobacco or a tobacco product.
Regulation 16 (1): “A person shall not manufacture, import, export, supply, possess, or offer for sale an illicit tobacco or a tobacco product”.
According to these legislation, it is illegal to engage in the business of selling, displaying, supplying, or advertising non-tobacco products or services that are linked with tobacco products, brands, or manufacturers. In addition, it is against the law to sell or offer for sale products that are packaged or labelled to look like tobacco or tobacco products.
The Food and Drug Administration demanded that all merchants, wholesalers, importers, and manufacturers immediately take down any and all advertisements that were posted on social media, billboards, neon signs, and any other platforms. In addition to this, they warned against bringing illegal tobacco goods into the nation.
Punishment for violating the laws
A violation of the laws governing tobacco control as well as the provisions of the Public Health Act that were cited are regarded an offence and are subject to the punishments that are outlined in ACT 851. In addition, the FDA’s release emphasized the importance of strictly adhering to these laws in order to protect the general public’s health and safety.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a strong warning to the general public not to use these products for any reason other than smoking cessation therapy because of the potential health risks associated with them.