50 Tamale shea-based cosmetic processors trained in labeling and compliance with standards

Regional news for Saturday 23 January 2021

Source: Dickson Boadi, Contributor

01/23/2021

Fifty small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in the transformation of shea-based cosmetics in the northern cluster have undergone capacity building training on labeling and compliance with standards in the metropolis of Tamale.

The training was organized by the Global Shea Alliance (GSA) with financial support from the West Africa Competitiveness Program (WACOMP) – Ghana, which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Organization industrial (UNIDO).

The training in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) through the WACOMP – Ghana Sub-Contracting Matching Scheme is the second of its kind, aimed at improving the quality of shea-based cosmetic products which are marketed for local and international consumption.

Mr. Charles Kwame Sackey, Chief Technical Advisor of WACOMP-Ghana said that the Training Support Matching Outsourcing Program aims to help cosmetic producers understand the registration process and requirements. related by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) which seek to increase their domestic market share and export their products to the international market.

“This in turn will strengthen the export competitiveness of local producers through increased added value, low carbon emissions, sustainable production and processing, and increased access to regional and international markets,” a- he declared.

Mr. Sackey also reminded SMEs of the opportunity offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) and why they must always produce to meet the required quality standards.

Mr. Prince Nunoo, Global Shea Alliance (GSA) Membership Manager, said the alliance will continue to support shea SMEs to be sustainable and reiterated that the collaboration between WACOMP-Ghana and GSA will continue to help. businesses to expand in Ghana.

Mr. Martin Kusi, northern regional director of the FDA, congratulated the organizers for the initiative, saying that poor labeling and packaging was one of the biggest challenges for shea processing SMEs in the region, because it affected the marketing of their products.

“Most local contractors produce ineffective labels without lot numbers, dates of manufacture, location address and other relevant details. This makes it difficult for GSA management to certify products for the market, ”he said.

Mr. Charles Kuranchie, head of quality assurance at GSA, pointed out that it is an offense to put products on the market without prior authorization from the FDA and GSA. He added that the violation of this directive had serious legal repercussions.