English labels must be used - Analyst Department
THE Government Analyst Food and Drug Department yesterday reminded that under the Food and Drugs regulations, 1977 of Guyana, all food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices must be labelled in English. "This is necessary to enable prescribers, dispensers, handlers and consumers of these products to clearly understand their directions for use, side effects, contra-indications, storage conditions, warnings, precautions and expiry dates," the department said. It explained that persons with special dietary needs, such as diabetics and those suffering from hypertension, would be at a disadvantage if they cannot read the label of a food or drug product to determine whether the item can safely be used. "A product labelled in a foreign language could also contain some ingredient to which the consumer is allergic (hypersensitive)," the department said. Cosmetics, such as hair dyes, containing the chemical para phenylenediamine or other Coaltar dye base are not intended for use in the area of the eye and may cause blindness if used to dye the eye-lashes or eye-brows. This warning may go unobserved for a product labelled in a foreign language, it noted. The department said many over-the-counter cough and cold preparations also warn that they should not be taken with alcohol as they could cause severe drowsiness. They also caution that persons should not use the products when driving or operating machinery. According to the agency, injury from use of medical devices could also be caused through labels which carry directions for use in a foreign language. "Incidents of ear drops, labelled in a foreign language, being (applied to) the eyes, have also occurred." It pointed to cases of pesticides which carry the name of antidotes with necessary instructions in case of accidental poisoning, noting it would be difficult to identify the antidote and follow such instructions in a foreign language, especially when treatment is necessary to save the life of a patient. The department said there are numerous other reasons why foods, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices should be labelled in English. It called on consumers, for their own safety and to assist the department in its monitoring programme, to refuse to purchase products labelled in a foreign language unless they carry an authentic English translation. 
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