Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has developed new regulations for
trading in industrial chemicals in a bid to check their increased use in
alcoholic drinks. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has developed new regulations
for trading in industrial chemicals in a bid to check their increased
use in alcoholic drinks.
Kenya has been grappling with increased use of methanol in alcoholic beverages that has caused deaths of consumers.
The
standards authority said its technical committee on industrial solvents
and chemicals is in the final stages of approving the final draft
standard for code of practice for safety of methanol.
“The
code is meant to address an urgent emerging public health and safety
issue regarding misuse of methanol in alcoholic drinks and has been
formulated using the procedure for urgent Kenya standards.”
The
standards organisation said all grades of methanol except those meant
for laboratory use shall be denatured with denatonium benzoate to
prevent oral intake by vulnerable consumers,” the standards authority
said in advertisement in the Daily Nation on Friday.
SAFETY MEASURES
The importers of methanol will be required to comply with the standard.
The importers of methanol will be required to comply with the standard.
The
code prescribes safety measures aimed at reducing to tolerable levels,
risk resulting from intended use and reasonable foreseeable misuse of
methanol meant for industrial and laboratory use.
The
code also outlines preventive measures aimed at achieving tolerable risk
associated with methanol, for vulnerable consumers especially the ones
in alcoholic beverage, laboratory and industrial sectors.
In May, over 100 people died in Kiambu, Makueni, Kitui and Embu counties after taking alcoholic beverages laced with methanol.
No comments :
Post a Comment