Rwanda has suspended the importation and sale of 52 alcohol brands, ordering their immediate withdrawal from the market to protect public health, the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) announced on Wednesday.
The suspension affects imported alcoholic beverages from four countries: 20 brands from India, 14 from Tanzania, 11 from Uganda and five from Kenya. Among the affected products are Kiwingu Spirit, Exo, K-vant, Gilbeys Gin, Bond 7, Bazzoka and Konyagi.
Rwanda FDA directed importers to immediately stop bringing the affected products into the country and work with distributors to remove them from the market. The products must be returned to importers’ warehouses, with a report on the withdrawal exercise submitted to the authority within three working days.
The regulator also ordered the immediate removal of all advertisements and promotional materials for the affected alcoholic beverages from wherever they are displayed.
The latest directive comes as Rwanda intensifies its crackdown on unsafe alcoholic beverages. Authorities have so far closed 136 factories linked to the production of illicit alcohol and seized about 470,000 litres of ethanol in Kigali, which is set to be destroyed.
Rwanda FDA said additional products may be added to the list as regulatory enforcement continues.
By Elisa Uwineza
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