Philipsburg:--- The Inspector of Health Dr. Earl Best, Chief Inspector of Pharmaceuticals Ashanti Van Heyningen, and Inspector John Connor visited Global Beauty Home Trade located upstairs of the Bowling Alley on Tuesday afternoon and ordered the manager to remove all of her non-medicinal products from their display tables since they are not in possession of a pharmaceutical license. The Inspectorate also informed the manager and sales persons that they could have seized all the non-medicinal products immediately but they chose to give them a warning, while they were also informed that they are violating the laws on St. Maarten when it comes to the selling of non-medicinal products.
Van Heyningen informed the manager that if she wants to sell the products that were on display at the location then she must obtain a license from the Department of Health. She also explained the manager that the products would have to be evaluated and registered on St. Maarten prior to the granting of such a license. "Such a process can take a long period of time because the products would have to be tested to see if it really does what the labeling says. Right now, the residents on St. Maarten are misled by your posters that say these products can cure the ailments mentioned." Dr. Earl Best informed the manager that in the past St. Maarten did not have its own Inspector General but now there is one on the island. He said that consumers have to be protected and the department of Economic Affairs has to advise the license holders what types of products they are allowed to sell when granting a license. Dr. Best made clear that controls will be done and persons that are caught selling these products will be given a first warning and if they continue then the products will be seized and other legal measures will be taken.
The manager informed the health inspectors that they were on the island in the past at least twice and they sold their products and no one ever informed them that they were violating the laws on St. Maarten. She also admitted that they were faced with the same problems in Aruba and as such the products they have in Aruba were shipped to St. Maarten by DHL and in containers. She said the containers were shipped to Peter Gittens, a manager at the Afoo Group of Companies. Gittens obtained a license from the Department of Economic Affairs for which he paid Naf. 500.
Inspector General of Health Dr. Earl Best gave the vendors and manager 24 hours to remove all the non-medicinal products that are sold to the residents of St. Maarten under the guise that these products can cure several illnesses such as arthritis, cancer, and several types of joint pains.
SMN News contacted the Head of Customs Anthony Doran for an explanation on how the products entered the island without the necessary permits. Doran said that there are hundreds of containers that come into the island on a daily basis at the harbor and therefore customs missed some of them. Doran further stated that they are working closely with the Inspectorate.
Click here to view more photos of the raid at Global Beauty Home Trade by the Inspectorate.
