Plastic bottle ban: Protection of consumers should be priority

As the August 1 deadline on the ban of using plastic bottles in gin manufacturing approaches, tension between the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and some gin manufacturers is at its highest as the two parties engage in blame game. While either party has genuine concerns, they should not compromise the bigger picture of why the plastic bottles are being banned. If packaging gin in plastic bottles has been scientifically proved to be a danger to the health of consumers, no explanation can justify why they should still be in use. Life is priceless and anything that puts lives at risk is not worth it. Therefore, all the warring parties in this case should come up with a solution that looks at the bigger picture. And the bigger picture is protecting the lives of consumers. Many of the affected manufacturers are only looking at their individual interests, which is okay, but they should also think about their consumers. It’s not enough to say that you need more years to keep using plastic bottles in order to pay loans at the expense of people’s lives. However, as the deadline draws nearer, sector stakeholders, RSB and the Trade and Industry ministry should work together to find a lasting solution that will ensure everyone is a winner. Finger-pointing and accusations and counter-accusations might not be the best approach to address the issue. Calling for a two-year extension might not be realistic, and means that those who have already installed glass bottle filling and packaging machines will lose their market share to cheaper gins. So, let those who haven’t acquired the recommended machines work with RSB and find a practicable solution.

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Plastic bottle ban: Protection of consumers should be priority