Rwanda FDA shuts down 12 more alcohol factories, total closures rise to 148

By The Inspirer.

Rwanda’s Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) has closed 12 additional factories producing alcoholic beverages, raising the total number of facilities shut down under a nationwide crackdown to 148.

The regulator said the latest action targets all alcohol manufacturing facilities classified under Category Four (Annex IV), with the operating licences of the affected factories revoked.

In a statement issued on August 6, 2026, Rwanda FDA said the decision was aimed at protecting public health and ensuring that alcoholic beverages available on the market meet required safety and quality standards.

The authority ordered the immediate withdrawal of all products produced by the affected factories and directed traders and distributors to stop selling or circulating them until further instructions are issued.

Rwanda FDA instructed factory owners to begin collecting their products from all points of sale and return them to their production facilities for recall or destruction in accordance with established regulations.

The affected companies have been given up to three months to submit reports detailing the process of removing the products from the market.

Retailers and distributors were also ordered to suspend sales of the affected beverages and keep any remaining stock in designated storage areas as they await return procedures with suppliers or manufacturers.

The regulator warned that complying with the recall measures does not prevent authorities from taking further legal action against businesses found violating applicable laws and regulations.

The closures are part of a wider government campaign launched on August 3, 2026, to eliminate alcoholic beverages that do not meet quality standards and address growing public health concerns linked to unsafe drinks.

Alongside closing local production facilities, Rwanda FDA has suspended the importation of 52 alcohol brands from abroad as authorities intensify monitoring of alcoholic beverages on the market.

The crackdown reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen quality control, protect consumers and ensure that businesses operating in the beverage sector comply with national safety requirements.