The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) in the latest statement says Relax and Ssalongo gin brands are not recommended for consumption since they are not certified yet, despite their presence on the local market.
“Our investigations have since established that the Relax and Ssalongo gin brands … are not certified by Uganda National Bureau of Standards and are therefore not recommended for consumption,” the statement published on March 7, 2019 says.
UNBS however, says that despite negative media reports, Uganda Waragi, Bond 7 Whisky, Chief Waragi, Royal Vodka, Kick Gin Pineapple, and Brigade Gin, Big 5 Vodka, Goal Vodka, Beckham Gin and V6 Tangawizi Vodka were certified and therefore meet the requirements of relevant Uganda standards.
“Furthermore, these products are regularly tested to ascertain their quality which includes absence of heavy metals,” the statement continues.
The standards body says it has the state of the art laboratory equipment including the Induction Coupled Plasma -Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) and the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) which are used to test heavy metals in food products and that the capacity has been used to test and assure the quality of all certified foods and beverages.
“UNBS therefore advises the general public to consume only packaged foods and beverages that are certified and have a distinctive mark on their labels,” it says.
It urges the public to always look out for UNBS Distinctive Mark for assurance that locally manufactured products meet the required standards and report any cases of substandard products on the market.
Meanwhile the Minister of Trade Industry and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde, days ago said effect March 30, 2019, there will not be the production and sale of alcohol in sachets.
In 2017, government through cabinet took decision to ban the sale and packaging of alcohol in sachets and this meant that the packaging and sale of alcohol must be done in plastic and glass bottles.
According to Minister Kyambadde, they met with alcohol manufacturers under their body of Uganda Alcohol Manufacturers Association and resolved on the road map to procure, install and commission new bottling packaging and production equipment and building premises for the acquired technology bottling machinery.
“All packaging of alcohol must be in glass and plastic bottles with 200Ml minimum. The sale of alcohol in sachets in banned with effect from March 30th and no one is expected to sale alcohol after this date,” said Mrs. Kyambadde in the just released document.