Food & Drug Care: SAC member opens FDA branch office in Yangon

Member of the State Administration Council [SAC] Jeng Pheng Naw Taung, Union Minister for Health Dr. Thet Khaing Win and officials on Sunday opened the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Branch office, in Htaukkyant of Yangon Region.

On the occasion, they inspected the processes of lab tests on the content of heavy metals such as mercury and lead, the authenticity of the raw material (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) used in manufacturing medicines and the presence of unwanted impurities so also monitoring whether the food dyes and preservatives are used within the permitted amount or not and the food contains mold (Aflatoxin) that can cause harm to humans.

Next, member of the SAC Jeng Pheng NawTaung discussed that the people consume ready-made and long-lasting processed food instead of clean and fresh food, according to changing social lifestyle.

Nowadays, foods containing dangerous chemicals and illegal dyes,  counterfeit medicines, mixed drugs and cosmetic products containing banned chemicals are available in the market. Concerning this, the Department of FDA is trying to supervise and control matters.

It is necessary for people to buy and consume healthy food and good quality cosmetics.After that, Union Minister Dr. Thet Khaing Win elaborated that the Department of FDA is working in cooperation with the international organizations and the ASEAN member states.

Works are underway to approve the national food law that meets the needs of the country, medical device law and cosmetic products draft law. The newly opened FDA branch office was completed during the 6 months of financial year 2021-2022 with the approved budget of 6.9 billion Kyats.

The new office includes 7 buildings of modern laboratories, infrastructure with the installation of E-submission system, staff housings and a training center.