Ingufu Gin Ltd leads eight manufacturers closed by Rwanda FDA

Rwanda’s food and drug regulator has ordered the immediate closure of several manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, including Ingufu Gin Ltd and NBG Ltd, and directed that all products made by the affected companies be removed from the market after inspections found they failed to comply with regulatory requirements.

The Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) announced the decision on Sunday, saying it followed inspections and an assessment of whether manufacturers, distributors and retailers of alcoholic beverages were operating in accordance with national regulations.

The regulator said the measures were taken to safeguard public health and strengthen oversight of the quality and safety of products available on the market.

In a statement issued on August 2, Rwanda FDA said it had revoked the manufacturing licences of the affected companies and ordered the immediate suspension of their operations.

The authority further instructed the manufacturers to begin recalling all products produced by the closed factories, while distributors and retailers were directed to stop selling the beverages immediately and return any remaining stock to the manufacturers or suppliers.

Among the companies affected is Ingufu Gin Ltd, whose products include Red Waragi, Rabiant Gin, Ngufu Gin, King's Vodka, Royal Castle Gin, Medal Gin, G&S Rum, New House Potable Spirit, Club Potable Spirit and Hometown Potable Spirit.

Also shut down was NBG Ltd, which manufactures United Flavored Gin, Bombastic Coconut Flavored Gin, Ingwe Flavored Gin, Amerikan Flavored Gin, Maguma Gin and Fimbo Blended Banana Brandy. All of these products have been ordered off the market.

Other companies ordered to cease operations are SKY Drop Industries Ltd, Africana Buffalo Ltd, NOPA Company Ltd, Roots Investment Group Ltd, Rugali Agro-processing Company and Zhonglu Industrial Liability Company Ltd.

Rwanda FDA urged members of the public to stop consuming any of the listed products immediately and called on manufacturers, distributors and retailers to comply fully with the directives.

The regulator warned that failure to implement the measures could result in further enforcement action under Rwanda's laws governing food and pharmaceutical products.

It also said inspections and compliance assessments are continuing across the alcoholic beverage industry and indicated that additional companies could face similar sanctions if they are found to be in breach of regulatory requirements.

“The ongoing inspection exercise is aimed at ensuring that only products meeting the required quality and safety standards are allowed onto the market,” the regulator said.

The latest action comes just hours after Rwanda FDA announced the suspension of all permits for the importation of ethanol, also known as neutral spirit, a key raw material used in the manufacture of many alcoholic beverages.

The authority also said it had suspended the processing of any new applications to import ethanol pending further regulatory review.

The twin measures represent one of the regulator’s most significant crackdowns on Rwanda’s alcoholic beverage industry in recent years.