The Rwanda National Police has warned food and beverage producers, processors and traders that ongoing quality inspections will extend beyond alcoholic drinks to other products on the market.
Police spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga issued the warning on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as authorities intensified their crackdown on substandard alcoholic beverages. The warning comes as Police and the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) presented suspects allegedly linked to the production and distribution of non-compliant alcoholic drinks.
Rutikanga urged businesses to use the ongoing crackdown as an opportunity to review their operations, check the quality of their products and correct any violations before facing enforcement action.
“Anyone who sells food or beverages or puts them on the market in any way should take this as a lesson and an opportunity to step back and check what they are doing,” he said.
He called on producers and traders to ensure that both their products and premises meet the required standards, rather than waiting for inspectors to identify violations.
“Correct them so that when we reach that area, we find things in order. No one should later say, ‘You did not warn us,’ or ‘We did not know you would come here,’” he said.
Police urges businesses to act before inspections
Rutikanga said ensuring food and beverage safety is a shared responsibility involving everyone along the supply chain, from producers to traders.
“It is the responsibility of every trader to play a role in safeguarding the safety of consumers of their food and beverages,” he said.
He also said Police had received information suggesting that some food and beverage products that do not meet required standards could still be on the market.
The spokesperson urged businesses not to wait for authorities to arrive but to conduct their own checks and address potential violations.
“I urge people not to be careless. Let them learn from these operations, look at what we are doing, use their judgment and review their activities to ensure they are done properly,” Rutikanga said.
He warned that businesses should not put profits ahead of public health, noting that poor hygiene and unsafe products can cause illness and, in serious cases, loss of life.
Police may intervene over serious hygiene violations
Rutikanga further said Police could take action where poor hygiene presents an immediate risk to public health, without necessarily waiting for other regulatory institutions to arrive.
He said activities could be stopped in serious cases, with relevant authorities following up through specialized inspections.
The warning comes amid nationwide enforcement operations against substandard alcoholic beverages. According to Rwanda National Police, 17 public officials were presented on August 13 over suspected involvement in the production and distribution of such drinks, including employees of the Rwanda FDA and Rwanda Standards Board.
RIB said 104 people had been arrested since the operations began on July 20, with files involving 97 suspects submitted to the prosecution.
Authorities say the wider enforcement campaign is aimed at protecting public health and ensuring that products placed on the Rwandan market meet required safety and quality standards.
