Rwanda Shuts Eight Liquor Factories, Recalls Dozens of Alcohol Brands

Manufacturers have been instructed to begin a full product recall, recover stocks from distributors and retailers, and submit recall reports to Rwanda FDA within three working days.

The Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) has ordered the immediate closure of eight alcoholic beverage manufacturing facilities and recalled all products produced by the companies over regulatory non-compliance.

In a public announcement issued on August 2, Rwanda FDA said the enforcement action followed regulatory inspections and compliance assessments conducted under the country’s food and drug safety laws.

The authority said it had revoked the manufacturing licences of the affected companies and directed that all alcoholic products manufactured by the firms be withdrawn from the market with immediate effect.

Manufacturers have been instructed to begin a full product recall, recover stocks from distributors and retailers, and submit recall reports to Rwanda FDA within three working days.

Distributors and retailers have also been ordered to stop selling the affected products immediately and return all remaining stock to their respective suppliers or manufacturers.

Rwanda FDA warned that failure to comply with the directives would attract sanctions under the country’s regulatory laws.

The authority further advised consumers to immediately stop consuming all alcoholic beverages produced by the affected companies, citing public health concerns.

The affected manufacturers are Ingufu Gin Ltd, NBG Ltd, SKY Drop Industries Ltd, Africana Buffalo Ltd, NOPA Company Ltd, Roots Investment Group Ltd, Rugali Agro-processing Company, and Zhonglu Industrial Liability Company Ltd.

Among the recalled brands are Red Waragi, King’s Vodka, Royal Castle Gin, United Flavoured Gin, Bombastic Coconut Flavoured Gin, Saint Nero Gin, African Buffalo Gin, Charging Whiskey, Moonlight Vodka, ENAK Gin, Be One Gin, RACK Gin, and Z.C.N Milestone Whisky, among several others.

Rwanda FDA said the recall also covers any other alcoholic beverages produced by the listed manufacturers, even if they are not specifically named in the announcement.

The regulator added that more manufacturing facilities could face similar action, noting that regulatory enforcement is ongoing and additional lists of affected companies will be released in due course.

The authority called for cooperation from manufacturers, distributors, retailers and the public to ensure the recall is implemented effectively in the interest of protecting public health.