The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) embarked on a nationwide product-quality monitoring exercise in selected facilities and markets to ascertain the compliance (thickness) of face masks from 28th June 2021 to 9th August 2021.

The objective of this monitoring exercise by the Authority was to check the conformance of the face masks sold on the market with the FDA’s In-House Specification (LSD/MED/GL-02) for testing face masks.

The quality control activities nationwide revealed that out of a total of 180 face masks samples obtained from the exercise, 155 samples passed the standards specification test, constituting 86.1% of the total samples, and 25 failed the test, constituting 13.9%, as per the Authority’s specifications. 

Fourteen (14) brands had been registered and approved by the FDA at the time of the exercise while one hundred and sixty-two (162) brands were unregistered with the Authority.  

Products that did not conform to the Authority’s specifications at the end of the exercise were detained awaiting safe disposal.

Importers of failed samples have been directed to initiate a recall of the failed samples and furnish the Authority with the necessary documentation.

Importers of unregistered brands have been directed by the Authority to bring their activities into regulatory compliance.

The general public is advised to report any suspicious FDA-regulated product. 

Importers and manufacturers are warned to desist from importing and producing products that are non-compliant with the approved standards.