The Liberia Medicines & Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) has announced a nationwide inspection targeting cosmetics and herbal products to enforce regulatory standards and protect public health. The month-long operation will begin on March 1, 2025, and cover all fifteen counties, focusing on the importation, storage, and sale of these products.
According to LMHRA, the inspection will include visits to warehouses, manufacturing facilities, supermarkets, beauty salons, and retail outlets to verify the registration status of businesses and the products they distribute. The agency is calling on importers, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors to ensure compliance before the inspection begins, warning that non-compliance could result in fines or product seizures.
In a statement, LMHRA urged stakeholders to visit its headquarters at Mamba Point, Sekou Toure Avenue, to complete the necessary registration processes and avoid disruptions to their operations.
The upcoming initiative follows a series of regulatory enforcement actions by LMHRA aimed at curbing the circulation of unregistered, substandard, and falsified health products. Between June 3 and June 21, 2024, the agency’s Inspectorate and Post-Market Surveillance Department, alongside its Communications Unit, conducted a ten-day unannounced inspection across Montserrado County. This operation targeted local clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical distributors to identify and remove illegal or expired medicines.
During that inspection, LMHRA deployed three teams to monitor facilities in Central Monrovia, Bushrod Island, and the Paynesville belt. While some businesses were found compliant, others violated regulations and were summoned to LMHRA’s headquarters to regularize their status.
The proliferation of counterfeit and substandard health products remains a major concern in Liberia, posing significant health risks to the public. LMHRA officials warn that unregulated products can cause severe harm, fail to treat medical conditions effectively, and undermine public confidence in the healthcare system.
Established by an Act of Legislature, LMHRA is tasked with ensuring that all medicines and health products in Liberia meet safety, efficacy, and quality standards. The agency says it remains committed to cracking down on illegal pharmaceutical activities and strengthening regulatory compliance across the country.
