Brewers in court to protest Kebs order on methanol

Kenya Bureau of Standard (Kebs) has issued new directives on the use of methanol and ethanol in drinks. PHOTO | FILE 

By THOMAS KARIUKI
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Alcohol brewers have moved to court to protest new directives by the Kenya Bureau of Standard (Kebs) on the use of methanol and ethanol in drinks.

 

The Association of Spirit Manufacturers of Kenya on Thursday told the court that a decision by Kebs to review existing alcohol manufacturing standards is unreasonable.

Under the new directives by Kebs, manufacturers must demonstrate the presence of a laboratory that can test both qualitative and quantitative composition of alcohol, especially methanol and ethanol.

Records of completed tests must be maintained to demonstrate that they are complying with the rules.

Further, the manufacturers must have on their staff a person qualified in food and safety analysis (trained to at least the diploma level).

'ACTING ON IMPULSE'

And manufacturers must have physical possession of the standards of the products being produced.

The directives are meant to curb the manufacture and sale of illicit brews.

The manufacturers, in their suit, accused the regulator of acting on impulse, saying they had all complied with the gazetted standards for the manufacture of spirits and “should not be coerced to implement directives without being consulted.”

“The decision made by the Kebs director, Mr John Abongo, is an abrupt, a knee-jerk reaction to an unfortunate situation…it is without regard of the law and laid-down procedures,” said Kabugu Muguku, the lawyer representing the brewers.

The alleged “unreasonable decision” is a review of the manufacturing standards for alcoholic drinks, which, according to the regulator’s order, “should not be sold unless the new directives are met.”