Executive Director of South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS), Gloria Nyoka, has defended the institution against criticism of its failure to prevent the entry of harmful alcohol into the country.
Speaking at the National Trade Forum on Monday in Juba, Nyoka cites that there are no available legal frameworks in South Sudan to regulate importation of alcohol.
“There are different standards of alcohol; beer has its standard, gin has its own, and spirit has their own standard. And indeed, the issues depend on how you are consuming the alcohol, and also depend on the regulations of the country regarding alcohol. Are there any laws that say that South Sudan cannot have alcohol at all? Nyoka inquired.
“We don’t have a law that prevents alcohol, but the bureau has come up with the inspection and testing, and if that alcohol does not meet the standards, then we have to stop it. This is what we are doing,” she explained.
Nyoka further explained that the bureau currently lacks the authority to restrict alcohol shipments into the nation solely based on their nature as alcohol.
She stated that such prevention could only occur if the government enacted legislation banning alcohol entirely.
“If South Sudan decides one day that we are banning alcohol, we will not give the standard of alcohol to those who are doing this business of alcohol. It goes back to the local government to come up with their regulations, which the Bureau of Standards will respond to,” she added.
“The standard does not work alone, it works with stakeholders at the government level and in the private sector. We are working for the safety and quality, and we don’t allow smuggling, because smuggling is prohibited.”
Nyoka’s defense came after National Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Onyoyti Adigo, and several other participants at the National Trade Forum demanded clarity on the presence of dangerous alcohol in the country.
The presence of harmful, toxic alcohol in the market has stirred debate, with some critics blaming the SSNBS, which is responsible for inspecting products entering the country, for failure to perform its duties duly.
Recently, Central Equatoria State (CES) intensified efforts to ban and confiscate certain types of alcohol, including those known locally as ‘Jana far’, as well as brands like Royal Gin, Rhino Waragi, Star Gin, London No.1, and Red Gin, among others deemed harmful, especially to young people.
The CES gov’t ordered destruction of confiscated alcohol seized from markets across Juba city.
Speaking at a destruction site, Juba County Commissioner Emmanuel Tete Ezbon appealed to leaders of other counties in Central Equatoria State to implement similar measures.
“We are calling on all county commissioners in Central Equatoria state to enforce these measures. All shops and bars must adhere strictly to the directives,” Tete appealed.
