Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) has suspended quality certification for 47 beverage manufacturers after inspections uncovered violations related to the production of alcoholic drinks and misuse of the S-Mark quality certification mark.
The decision is part of a wider government crackdown on substandard alcoholic beverages following reports of unsafe products on the market and growing concerns over their impact on public health.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, RSB ordered the affected manufacturers to immediately instruct distributors to return the products to factory warehouses and ensure they are removed from the market. Companies that fail to comply will face further legal and regulatory action.
RSB said the suspension followed reviews of agreements signed during the issuance of quality marks, alongside joint inspections assessing compliance with national quality standards and the proper use of certification labels.
The standards body revoked the S-Mark certificates previously granted to the affected products and suspended the use of the quality mark on beverages produced by the sanctioned companies.
“Protecting the health and safety of consumers remains a priority. Beverage manufacturers, distributors, retailers and the public are informed that these measures must be implemented immediately,” RSB said.
The affected companies have also been directed to submit reports to Rwanda FDA confirming that products have been collected from the market within three working days from August 3, 2026.
RSB warned that additional companies could face similar measures as inspections continue into the quality of alcoholic beverages and the use of certification marks.
The announcement follows a series of enforcement actions by Rwanda FDA, which has so far suspended operations of 109 alcoholic beverage factories found to be violating government regulations.
The government has intensified efforts to curb the production and sale of unsafe alcoholic drinks, including the suspension of ethanol imports as authorities strengthen controls over the sector.
The Ministry of Health reported that between January and July 2026, more than 500 people received medical treatment after consuming unsafe alcoholic beverages. The cases included 50 deaths, more than 11,000 people affected by alcohol-related complications and over 100 people who suffered permanent blindness.
Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana said tests conducted on samples from some of the closed factories revealed serious discrepancies, with some drinks labelled as containing 40 percent alcohol found to contain 70 percent or higher alcohol levels.
