FDB seeks changes in drugs manufacturing

Accra, Aug. 3, GNA - The Food and Drugs Board says it was seeking changes to the regulatory framework to support the growth of local manufacturing companies.

The changes are geared towards strengthening the capacity of the local industry to make them more competitive locally and internationally.

Speaking at the monthly luncheon for members of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr Emmanuel Agyarko, Chief Executive Officer of the FDB, said the process to effect the changes was, however, being stalled by differences with other regulatory agencies, whose mandate overlaps that of the FDB and led to duplication of efforts.

There are currently over 15 regulatory agencies all performing different tasks to promote export trade.

According to him, the differences had led to a situation where various meetings scheduled for the institutions to enable them to work on a comprehensive memo on the changes to cabinet had so far proved unsuccessful.

Some of the proposed changes include the mandatory registration of regulated products and manufacturing premises.

Mr. Agyarko said it was important that the regulatory system inspired confidence and met international best practices. While admitting that local industries would initially be unable to meet the rigorous standards, Mr. Agyarko said with time they could polish their acts.

"Local industries will make mistakes but they must be given time to polish their acts."

He said from the beginning of 2008, the importation of some pharmaceutical products would be restricted and some 40 pharmaceutical products would be reserved solely for local manufacturing. Mr. Agyarko said similar measures in the past had helped prop up the local pharmaceutical industry and enable them to meet at least 30 per cent of local demand.

Mr. Tony Oteng-Gyasi, President of AGI, pledged the Association's support for efforts to improve on the regulatory environment. He was, however, not happy that the Ghana Standards Board and the FDB could not agree on the wording of a memo to cabinet leading to unnecessary delay in bringing about the changes.

Mr. Oteng-Gyasi said the AGI would put its expertise at the disposal of the two institutions to help resolve their differences in the interest of industrial growth.