TDL LAUDS GOVERNMENT FOR ‘VIROBA’ BAN

THE Tanzania Distilleries Limited (TDL), a subsidiary of TBL Group yesterday expressed its full support to the government move to ban the use of alcohol packed in plastic sachets.

TDL General Manager Devis Deogratius said his company is committed to working with the government to address the concerns associated with the use of plastic packaging in the country and that the company already stopped producing and selling its products in sachets since February 28, this year.

He said the move stands to comply with the recent government announcement that banned the use of alcohol in sachets.

Government officials comprising team of officers from the National Environmental Council (NEMC), TFDA, TBS, TRA, Police and other government agencies visited TDL on Wednesday to verify if the company had complied with the government directive.

Mr Deogratias said the team found the finished stock in the warehouse which was quarantined and coded not for sale. He said the company continues with production of spirits, which is packed in glass bottles.

The National Task Force entrusted with the enforcement of the ban on sachet-packed liquor restricted the distribution of the products in the company's warehouses, citing the environmental legislation.

Speaking to reporters after the Temeke inspection on Wednesday, the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) Inspector, Mr Aaron Nzallah, said the products will remain in the watch of its owner, pending further directives.

"The restriction is within the National Environmental and Management Act No 76 of 2017," said Mr Nzallah, a member of the Task Force that draws members from the Police, TFDA, the Tanzania Revenue Authority, Fair Competition Commission and other stakeholders.

The TDL said on Wednesday his company was focused to invest in a new technology for bottle packaging of liquor.

"We are in a process of getting the new technology to resume production, considering the fact that there are people employed and their jobs should be protected, whatsoever," he said adding they wanted to adopt the new technology soon so that they could resume production and continue paying taxes and protect the jobs of employees.