Mozambique’s General Inspectorate for Food and Economic Safety (IGSAE) has seized more than 17,000 units of alcoholic beverages valued at approximately 1.3 million meticais, following an enforcement operation carried out in Matola, Maputo Province.
According to Lusa, the operation targeted four commercial establishments and was designed to verify compliance with new rules governing the production, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages established under Decree No. 31/2025 of 11 September.
IGSAE Inspector-General Shaquila Mohamed said the seized beverages, predominantly of the chivochongo variety, are suspected of having been produced using pure ethyl alcohol — a raw material prohibited in the manufacture of this category of product.
Inspectors also detected beverages without fiscal stamps, rolls of unstamped seals yet to be applied, labelling materials, and products lacking mandatory information in the Portuguese language. Three of the four inspected establishments were ordered to close, and samples of the beverages were collected for laboratory analysis.
IGSAE noted that current legislation requires alcoholic beverages to be produced from fruits or grains, explicitly prohibiting the use of pure ethyl alcohol or synthetic alcohol. Authorities announced that the seized products will be destroyed once the applicable legal procedures have been completed.
During the inspection, agents also discovered a pistol and nine rounds of ammunition at one of the establishments. The owner presented an expired firearm licence and was unable to produce the corresponding permit booklet; the matter was referred to police and judicial authorities.
The operation was conducted with the participation of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and the Mozambique Republic Police (PRM), and forms part of a broader effort to strengthen oversight of the production and commercialisation of alcoholic beverages in the country.
In July, authorities in Sofala Province destroyed 1,699 units of beverages deemed unfit for consumption, also valued at approximately 1.3 million meticais.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/15/negocios/comercio/igsae-apreende-bebidas-alcoolicas-no-valor-de-13-milhao-de-meticais/
