MBS to start impounding liquor packed in plastic bottles

The Malawi Bureau of Standard (MBS) has said it is implementing the ban against liquor packed in plastic bottles in the country.

This has been disclosed in a statement issued on Monday made available to faceofmalawi signed by MBS Director General Deviln Chokazinga.

According to a statement released, the ban is implemented following court ruling on 4th January, 2017 that manufacturing, packaging, distribution and sale of liquor in sachets and plastic bottles is illegal in Malawi.

“The MBS banned packing of spirits in sachets and plastic bottles in July 2010. Following the ban, some of the manufacturers of spirituous liquor and producers of plastic bottles obtained court injunctions that restricted the MBS to implement the ban.

“On 4th January, 2017, the High Court of Malawi made a ruling on Case No. 67 of 2015 in favour of the MBS that manufacturing, packaging, distribution and sale of liquor in sachets and plastic bottles is illegal in Malawi,” reads in part the statement.

He added: “The MBS therefore wishes to inform the general public and all manufacturers of spirituous liquor that it will implement the ban following the ruling. The general public and all manufacturers of spirituous liquor are hereby advised to immediately comply with the MBS Act Cap 51:02 as stipulated in MS 210 (1990): Spirits-Specification which stipulates that spirits shall be packed in clean glass bottles. In this regard the MBS is expecting compliance by liquor manufacturers as a sign that they are law abiding corporate citizens of this country.”

Meanwhile MBS has advised the general public that it will intensify its market surveillance activities throughout the country where the liquor packed in plastic bottles will be confiscated and producers including vendors or shops will be penalized for producing or selling non-conforming liquor.