General News of Thursday, 20 September 2001

Source: GNA

Customs Destroy Unwholesome Poultry Products

The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Tuesday burnt 125 cartons of unwholesome frozen poultry products at Ho. The products suspected to have been smuggled from the Republic of Togo, included 10 cartons of chicken gizzard, 60 cartons of chicken thighs, five cartons of chicken wings and 50 cartons of turkey wings. They were estimated to attract 283,125 cedis in custom duties.

Mr Anthony Sewor, Deputy Sector Commander of CEPS, told the Ghana News Agency that the Food and Drugs Board declared the products unwholesome and ordered their destruction.

He said personnel of the Service impounded the products in an Accra bound vehicle, in July, this year at Podoe, near Juapong in the North Tongu District.

Mr Sewor said the importation of meat and meat products was outlawed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry following the outbreak of the mad cow disease in some European Union countries.

He advised traders to abide by procedures governing the importation of such products or be ready to face the full rigours of the law if caught violating such guidelines.

Mr Sewor appealed to the public to volunteer information on importers so that the authorities could prevent them from dumping unwholesome products on the market.