Importer blocked from clearing & distributing expired Dutch milk at Takoradi Port

Two state agencies at the Takoradi Port in the Western Region have blocked an importer from clearing and distributing a large consignment of suspected expired milk.

The imported milk, Aro Volle Melk, labelled in Dutch was imported from The Netherlands by Oprehesco Enterprise and one Gregory Affum Prempeh. The product does not indicate manufacture date, but has an expiry date of March 31, 2013.

The Custom Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and regional office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) have impounded the product at the Takoradi Port awaiting destruction at the expense of the importer.

The product description, direction, nutritional values, combination of ingredients, manufacturer’s name and other vital information are not written in English.

Mr. Solomon Agampim of the FDA told Graphic Online that apart from the fact that the product had expired, it could not be allowed into the market because it does not meet the country’s labelling regulation as the product information were all in a language that could not be read or interpreted by consumers.

“As directed by the Ghana Standards Authority, products imported into the country have to be labelled in English or in other languages but has English translation for easy comprehension,” he said.