Belgium poultry and pork products still being withdrawn

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 June '99

The Ministry of Trade and Industry on Thursday said it has been able to withdraw "a lot of" the banned Belgium poultry and pork products containing the cancer-causing chemical dioxin from the market.

''This will help stop wholesalers from selling the products to retailers, therefore making our task a little bit easier'', Mr Samuel Denu, deputy chief commercial officer, said in an interview in Accra.

Mr Denu, spokesman for the committee on unwholesome products at the Ministry, expressed satisfaction about the way wholesalers have co-operated with them since the exercise began a week ago.

He said some wholesalers voluntarily came forward to report the number of the banned products they have sold out and what is left in their stores.

"According to them, they have even sent the rest of the products back to their manufacturers to reclaim their money, which I think is a good idea.''

The committee is made up of members from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Standards Board, Food and Drugs Board and the Custom, Excise and Preventive Service.