General News of Thursday, 29 May 2025

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

CPA warns public over repackaged 'fake baby diapers' on the market

Confiscated diapers at the back of a truck Confiscated diapers at the back of a truck

The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has cautioned the public over the influx of fake and substandard baby diapers on the Ghanaian market.

According to the agency, most of the fake baby diapers have been rejected in their countries of origin due to safety concerns.

The CPA pointed to laxity in enforcement of regulations as the reason behind the importation of these goods by unscrupulous importers into the local markets, posing serious health risks to infants.

A report by citinewsroom.com on May 29, 2025, indicated that the warning follows a recent crackdown by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), which led to the confiscation and incineration of over one million pieces of the substandard diapers.

It added that the action became necessary after increasing complaints from parents, particularly mothers, about diaper-related rashes, infections, and discomfort.

The Executive Director of Mediation and Arbitration at the CPA, Nana Prempeh Aduhene, in an interview with Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, May 28, revealed the disturbing findings from their investigations.

“Our investigation shows that some of these diapers are rejected in their home countries. When they are going through production, some of these diapers are rejected, and they end up in the trash can. But because of greed, somebody goes there, picks them up, bags them into a container, brings them to Ghana, and then repacks them into plain poly bags, and then they sell them on the market,” he said.

Aduhene explained that the CPA alerted the FDA upon receiving the information.

The FDA had allowed importers to store the products in designated warehouses, but later shut down some facilities upon uncovering their improper practices.

“We do not have a problem with importing diapers into the country, but they have to go through rigorous tests that have been confirmed with the FDA and the Ghana Standards Authority,” he noted.

“All these diapers we are talking about, FDA told us they were banned from coming into the country, so we are surprised that they have found their way into the country,” he added.

He further indicated that their investigations point to China as the likely source of the substandard diapers.

VPO/MA