Unregistered baby diapers pose health risks – Authorities

Importers of second-hand and unregistered baby diapers have been warned against the serious health implications of their continuous supply of the products to babies and children.

This is according to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), and the Customs Division of the Ghana Health Service.

In a joint statement on Monday, the institutions bemoaned the importation of unlabeled baby diapers, which, according to them, are unhygienically packaged in bales or hidden in imported clothing to be repackaged and sold to consumers.

They noted that “this practice does not conform to the regulatory requirements and the packaging and labeling requirements of the Ghana Standard (GS 1166:2017) for disposable baby diapers.”

“The FDA cannot guarantee the levels of any toxins, dyes, or skin irritants that may be present in unregistered baby diapers. In addition, the frequent handling of diapers, usually under insanitary conditions, can cause germs to enter the genital area, which poses a great danger to the health and well-being of babies and children, especially girls,”, the statement explained.

They, however, warned that imported baby diapers that are registered should be packaged properly from the point of manufacturing to distribution. This, the statement added, would protect it from moisture, soiling, contamination, and damage during transportation, storage, and distribution throughout the product’s shelf life.

On the consequences of the continual importation of unregulated diapers, the institutions warned that they would confiscate and properly dispose of the products at the importer’s cost.

The statement further urged the public to buy only registered and properly labeled diapers as listed on the FDA’s website.