The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has ordered the recall of some 100 drugs imported and distributed by Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, a local drugs company, without authorisation. While awaiting the recall, the Authority has begun investigations into how such assorted drugs could be imported into the country without any official documentation and approval. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the FDA, Mr James Lartey, said the only designated places for the importation of drugs into the country were the Tema Port and Kotoka International Airport and wondered how the drugs entered the country without the necessary permission. He said what made the situation serious was that the drugs were already on the market. Mr Lartey said the authority had directed the recall and had taken over the warehouse where the drugs were being kept with the view to destroying them at a landfill site. Mr Lartey said the authority had also directed its officials to ensure public safety by carrying out similar exercises throughout the country to confiscate and destroy such drugs. Currently, he said, the FDA would meet for discussions to take a decision on the appropriate sanctions to be applied to the company. When the Daily Graphic contacted the Western Regional Officer of the FDA, Mr Solomon Agampim, he said in early August, this year, the Drug Enforcement Department of the FDA carried out post-market surveillance on the premises of Tobinco Pharmaceuticals. He said findings after the surveillance revealed that 48 of the products of the company were not registered with the FDA, while the registration status of 41 other products had expired. Additionally, registration of 16 other drugs was pending, while only two drugs had valid registration. Mr Agampim said it was wrong for the company to engage in the importation and distribution of unregistered medicines. The company, he said, was compelled to bring all the unregistered products into compliance with the law and all unregistered ones be safely disposed of at the cost of the company. He said the regional office had gone to the premises of the company in Takoradi and would be moving the consignment to the landfill site for destruction. When the Daily Graphic contacted the offices of Tobinco in Takoradi, the officers declined to comment on the matter.