Health Dept picks up Health permit & Cert of Approval enforcements

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a statement this week, the Health Department reminds all businesses to comply with sanitary health conditions pursuant to Public Health law and regulations. And starting Apr. 1st, DoH’s Environmental Health Services Division will be enforcing that ALL businesses — food and non food establishments — obtain a facility health permit prior to operating or continuing operation of a business.

According to DoH, this is for any business — food or non -food, medicine or drugs — that involves the exchange of currency, cash or any form of payment which also involves online selling on Facebook and media and any person that may export, import or sell in American Samoa any medicines or drugs, including patent medicines that have not been granted approval by the American Samoa Health Services Regulatory Board (ASHSRB).

DoH warns that if the business does not have a valid health permit, “your business will be forced to SHUT DOWN until a health inspection has been conducted and you have obtained a valid facility health permit.”

Additionally, all non-English or non-Samoan labeled food or food items, medicines or drugs sold locally will be removed, and seized — if items have not been removed from the shelves. Furthermore, tampering with expiration dates on any food or food items, medicine or drugs will be subject to legal actions immediately.

“Failure to comply will lead to issuance of citations, closure of business and further legal actions,” said DoH in the statement signed by Health director, Motusa Tuileama Nua.

Furthermore, DoH said that effective Apr. 1, 2021, all businesses closed or shutdown by DoH will be broadcast on media via local newspaper and on radio to the public with the following information: Name of Business, Owners, Manager, Type of Business, Location , Violations and photos of business.