Worried by the danger posed by the activities of illegal operators of patent medicine and pharmaceutical stores in Lagos, the state government, through its Taskforce on Fake, Counterfeit and Unwholesome Processed Foods, has sealed no fewer than 29 illegal patent medicine stores.“The closure is part of the government’s efforts at ridding the state of fake, substandard and illegal drugs’ operators and outlets, as well as ensuring high drug quality through sanitation and streamlining of drug distribution system in the state,” Osunkiyesi said.
She noted that the sealing of fake pharmaceutical premises was in accordance with the provision of Chapter C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act of 1999, Number 25.
She added that the raid was necessitated by the persistent defiance of government’s stipulated regulation on drug production, importation, manufacture, sales or display for sales, hawking, distribution, adulteration, and possession of drugs by illegal operators.
The shops were sealed off for offences ranging from sales of drugs without license from the regulatory authority; to failure or refusal to relocate from a market area and adherence to the mandated distance between a patent medicine shop and market place, as stipulated by the law; and sales of counterfeit and fake drugs amongst others.
Osunkiyesi, who expressed concern on the danger posed by the nefarious activities of illegal operators of patent medicine and pharmaceutical stores in the state, added that it was particularly disheartening that despite the provisions of the law which outlines requirements for registration and renewal of pharmaceutical premises, people still chose to stay on the wrong side of the law.
Source: Punch Online
