Clement Anyim, a Senior Regulatory Officer at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has highlighted the agency’s proactive measures to enforce regulations aimed at reducing smoking in public spaces. He noted that the FDA regularly conducts monitoring and inspections of public places to ensure businesses comply by providing designated smoking areas and proper signage.
“We conduct monitoring and inspections at public places to check whether they have designated areas for smokers and whether appropriate signage is displayed,” Mr. Anyim explained.
Speaking in an interview on A1 Radio, he provided updates on the FDA’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with smoke-free policies and safeguard public health. He emphasized that entities found in violation of these regulations may face administrative penalties. The agency’s public awareness campaigns, he noted, have significantly contributed to increased compliance. “Most entities are now doing well,” he said, attributing the improvement to the effectiveness of educational initiatives targeting both businesses and the general public.
Mr. Anyim underscored the dangers of secondhand smoke, which is emitted from the burning ends of tobacco products as well as exhaled smoke. He revealed that secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, more than 100 of which are toxic, with over 50 linked to cancer. This stark reality, he said, underscores the importance of enforcing smoke-free environments to protect public health.
“When we talk about secondhand smoking, we mean the smoke that comes from the burning ends of tobacco products or the smoke exhaled by smokers,” he explained. “There are over 4,000 chemicals found in smoke, more than 100 of which are toxic, and over 50 of these toxic chemicals are known to cause cancer.”
In addition to smoke-free policies, the FDA is also vigilant in identifying and removing unwholesome products from the market. Mr. Anyim disclosed that the agency seizes such products daily as part of its commitment to ensuring consumer safety. He advised consumers to always check expiry dates and pay attention to product storage conditions when making purchases.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
