Cameroon: Government suspends four whiskey brands for illegal, unhealthy production

The Government of Cameroon has suspended the production and distribution of four brands of whiskey, stating they are functioning in illegality and produce in an unhealthy environment.

In an order signed on May 5, the acting Minister of Mines, Industry, and Technological Development, Fuh Calistus Gentry, said the company producing the brands has been doing “illegal” activities.

The whiskeys include Loma brand whiskeys, Casa de Cavini, Baron de Cavini and Château de Merlot. They are produced by Africa Food Complex SARL, a company specialized in the production and marketing of wines and spirits.

The Ministerial decision states that the conditions for manufacturing these products are inadequate.

The suspension order stated that they are “very unhealthy, inconvenient, posses an unclean working environment, non-existent quality assurance system, illegal production of bagged and produce counterfeit whiskeys”.

The suspension is part of government’s fight against sachet whiskeys in Cameroon.

On April 11, 2023, Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry signed a decision banning the production and marketing of whiskey packaged in sachets with volumes of less than 50 milliliters.

That was not the first time the Cameroon Government was banning this type of whiskey in the country.

Like the case with previous bans on the product, sachet whiskey is still sold openly around the country, despite the recent ban.

By Amina Hilda