Food Registration And Applied Nutrition
Directorates
- Administration and Supply Chain
- Business Development & International Partnership
- Drug and Herbal Medicines Registration
- Enforcement
- Food Registration And Applied Nutrition
- Food Safety And Consumer Education
- Human Resource
- Industrial Services Support
- Inspectorate Directorate
- Internal Audit
- Legal and Corporate Affairs
- Medical Devices, Cosmetics And Household Chemical
- Regional Operations
- Tobacco And Substances Of Abuse
- Vaccines, Vigilance And Clinical Trials
The mandate of the Food Registration and Applied Nutrition Directorate (FRAND) is defined by the following sections of the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851:
Section 82 (f): Coordination of the Technical Advisory Committee on Nutrition (TAC-NU)
Section 97: Food Product Registration
Section 98: Cancellation or Suspension of Registration
Section 103: Advertisement of Food
Section 107: (1) – (5): Mandatory Fortification of food
Section 127c: Conduct Research and Training
Section 147: (1) – (3) Regulations
Section 148: (1) – (4) Guidelines and Codes of Practice.
The Food Registration and Applied Nutrition Directorate achieves its mandate through two Departments, namely:
- Food Evaluation and Registration Department (FERD)
- Research and Nutrition Department (RND)
Food Evaluation and Registration Department
The Department processes and grants market authorization for food products intended for export and/or sale on the Ghanaian market. The operational activities include:
- Processing of food product applications for registration (new, renewal, and variation applications).
- Coordinating food product registration committee meetings
- Maintaining the food product register
- Issuance and revocation of food product Certificates of Registration
- Drafting and review of guidelines and codes of practice
Research and Nutrition Department
The Department coordinates all Nutrition related activities of the Authority, processes Food Advertisement applications and conducts research activities to inform regulatory decision making. The operational activities include:
- Collaborating with academic and research institutions on research findings to inform policy decisions.
- Processing food advertisement applications and coordinating meetings
- Monitors the compliance of the Breastfeeding Promotion Regulations, 2000 (L.I. 1667) via the evaluation of designated products (commonly termed breast milk substitutes).
- Evaluating applications of other Foods for Special Dietary Uses.
- Collaborating with stakeholders in the development and review of national nutrition policies and legislation.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY FOOD REGISTRATION AND APPLIED NUTRITION DIRECTORATE
PRODUCT REGISTRATION
- Processes new, renewal and variation applications for food and feed meant for animal consumption within 30 working days for regular applications.
- Responds to food registration related enquiries and issues.
- Communicates all correspondences to clients.
- Provides ‘’Premium Service Delivery’’ for processing of low-risk products, renewal and request (variations, reissuance of documents, responses, label evaluation, name/institutional search) applications at three (3) times the regular fees.
- Progressive Licensing Scheme (PLS):
Advises on labelling and packaging suitability prior to acceptance of applications.
TIMELINES AND FEES FOR PREMIUM APPLICATIONS
No | Description | Timeline | Fees |
1 | Renewal Application of Food Product Registration | 10 Working Days | 3 x Regular fee |
2 | New Application for Low-Risk Food Product Registration | 15 Working Days | 3 x Regular fee |
3 | Request Applications (variations, reissuance of documents, responses, label evaluation, name/institutional search) | 5 Working Days | 3 x Regular fee |
This does not include products that require Laboratory confirmation and Site Verification. Supermarket products and Request for Due Diligence (Eg. From Legal Firms, Banks etc) are also excluded
PRODUCT ADVERTISEMENT
Regulates food advertisements (electronic, new media and print). These advertisements include billboards, posters, promotions, radio, television, Live Presenter Mention (LPM), car branding, LED screen.
Provides the following services in relation to food advertisements.
- Receipt of advertisement applications
- Review of advertisement applications.
- Processing of all responses from advertisement applications issues
- Communicate all correspondence to clients.
- Respond to advertisement related enquiries and issues.
Provides ‘’Fast Track Services (Express)’’ for processing of New/Renewal Applications for Food Product Advertisement at three (3) times the regular fees.
TIMELINES AND FEES FOR APPLICATIONS
No | Description | Timeline | Fees |
1. | New/Renewal Application for Food Product Advertisement | 21 Working Days | Regular |
2. | New/Renewal Application for Food Product Advertisement for Fast Track Services (Express)
| 5 Working Days | 3 x Regular |
