The Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) has revoked all previously issued licenses authorizing the importation and use of ethanol, also known as neutral spirit, while simultaneously suspending the issuance of new permits until further notice as part of a nationwide effort to strengthen public health safeguards and tighten oversight of the highly regulated substance.
The decision was announced in a public notice issued on July 31, 2026, citing Ministerial Order No. 003/2018 of February 9, 2018, which governs the importation of food and food-related products in Rwanda and empowers the Authority to regulate substances that pose potential risks to public health.
According to Rwanda FDA, the revocation affects all existing authorizations for the importation and use of ethanol (neutral spirit), while all pending and future applications have also been suspended until further notice.
The Authority said the move is intended to reinforce regulatory compliance and prevent the misuse of industrial alcohol.
Ethanol is widely used as a raw material in pharmaceutical manufacturing, food processing, cosmetics production, laboratory research, medical disinfectants and industrial cleaning.
However, because of its high alcohol concentration, it can also be diverted for the illegal production of alcoholic beverages, exposing consumers to potentially life-threatening health risks.
Public health experts have long warned that illicit alcoholic drinks produced using industrial ethanol may contain dangerous impurities or excessively high alcohol concentrations capable of causing severe poisoning, permanent organ damage, blindness or even death.
In addition, ethanol is highly flammable, making its storage, transportation and handling subject to strict safety requirements.
The latest directive suggests Rwanda FDA is undertaking a comprehensive review of entities involved in importing and handling ethanol to ensure they comply with regulatory standards governing hazardous substances.
Such reviews typically examine storage facilities, intended industrial use, record-keeping, traceability and safety procedures.
The suspension could temporarily affect manufacturers in sectors that legitimately depend on ethanol as a production input, including pharmaceutical companies, cosmetics manufacturers and laboratories.
Businesses operating in these sectors are expected to await further guidance from Rwanda FDA regarding the review process and future licensing arrangements.
The move forms part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to strengthen regulation of controlled substances, improve supply chain accountability and protect consumers from unsafe products.
Over recent years, regulatory authorities have increasingly adopted risk-based inspections and stricter compliance measures to ensure chemicals and other sensitive products are used only for their intended purposes.
Rwanda FDA has urged all importers, manufacturers, distributors and users of ethanol to comply fully with the directive as the Authority continues its review.
The regulator reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health through effective regulation of medicines, food products, medical devices and controlled substances, while ensuring hazardous chemicals are managed in accordance with national laws and international safety standards.
