Photo: Secretary of GPCIPS Mr. Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim speaks at the symposium

Speaking at the two-day symposium for Importers of Food and Medicine which took place on 30 January at the Dhat Al-Imad conference hall, Secretary of the GPC for Inspection and People's Supervision (GPCIPS) Mr. Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim said that there is a large number of complaints from consumers that many imported expired products.

Mr. Ibrahim stressed that importers must abide by the law and take into consideration the protection of the consumer by providing him with safe and healthy products and goods.

Ibrahim also admitted that despite the continuous efforts made by the Center of Supervision on Medicine and Food in carrying out many and expensive tests, it remains that a large number of products are sold while it is unfit for human consumption. He also said that the reason is that some of the importers' resort to forging of documents related to the date of production of these good, the Libyan news agency JANA reported.

He warned that this was dangerous to the health of the people, Jana said.

Meanwhile, the GPCIPS has recently announced that inspection authorities shut down more than 70 pharmacies in country which were found selling expired medicine and have no licenses as well as other types of violations.

The announcement which is posted on the GPCIPS' web site said another 49 pharmacies were cited for violations and 14 more were referred to the general prosecutor.