Post Registration Review on Mixed Drinks Containing Both Depressant

 

Dear Sir,

 

POST REGISTRATION REVIEW ON MIXED DRINKS CONTAINING BOTH DEPRESSANT (ALCOHOL) AND STIMULANT (CAFFEINE, GLUCURONOLACTONE, GINSENG, GUARANA, ETC.)

 

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) write to inform you that it has reviewed its regulation of mixed drinks containing both depressant (alcohol) and stimulant (caffeine, inositol, glucuronolactone, ginseng, guarana, etc.)

 

The review was conducted pursuant to Sections 81 and 82(a) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), which empowers the FDA to enforce standards to protect public health and safety.

 

This review on mixed drinks containing both depressant (alcohol) and stimulant (caffeine, etc) is based on:

 

  • Mounting evidence highlighting the many health risks and psychosocial behaviours associated with the concurrent consumption of alcohol and caffeine, particularly among the youth, young adults and unsuspecting consumers.

 

  • This concern has been corroborated by the FDA’s Food Expert Committee – The Technical Advisory Committee on Food Safety and Nutrition, as well as regulatory best practices from international/regional precedents (In 2023, Cote d’Ivoire suspended imports of ‘Kadhafi’, a dangerous mix of energy drinks and tramadol. Uganda revoked certifications for drinks containing undeclared alcohol volumes of 1.1% – 10.3%. Beyond Africa, Sweden restricted sales of certain energy drinks after alcohol-related deaths and implemented age limits and pharmacy-only sales in some cases. Lebanon since 2014 has banned the production, imports and marketing of alcohol mixed energy drinks due to the associated health risk. The USFDA declared caffeine as an unsafe food additive in alcoholic beverages. Canada banned pre-mixed alcoholic energy drinks due to earlier listed health concerns in 2010).

 

Based on the above, the FDA is by this notice giving importers, manufacturers and distributors until March 2026 to clear such products off the Ghanaian markets without sanctions.

 

Manufacturers and producers are required to re-formulate their products to meet the approved standards for Alcoholic Beverages and that of Energy Drinks separately.

 

Please note that this directive takes effect immediately.

 

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

PROF. KWABENA FRIMPONG-MANSO OPUNI

  1. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

Cc DCEO, Technical Operations Division

      DCEO: Corporate Services Division

     Director: Centre for Imports and Exports Control

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