The confidential report disclosed to myrepublica.com says the samples of the two liquor brands collected from different markets have tested negative of methanol -- the killer spirit. [break]
However, officials at the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) said they were still awaiting the results of samples collected from the factories themselves before taking any new decision on the ban on Khukuri and Virgin.
Khukuri rum is a product of Nepal Distillery and Virgin is produced by Highland Distillery. Both these companies have claimed that their products are not tainted and are safe for consumption. They have blamed fake brands for the recent incidents of deaths and loss of eye-sight.
“Lab tests by Department of Standards and Metrology (DoSM) and Nepal Police suggest that the products bottled by the companies and bearing original excise seals are methanol-free,” said Nava Raj Bhandari, deputy director general of IRD, who is monitoring the lab test results.
He told myrepublica.com that the claims by the two companies that the alcohol that caused deaths and disability were fake brands could be true. “But we can be sure only after DoSM supplies us the results of samples collected from their factories,” he said.
IRD and Nepal Police, which is also investigating into the tainted liquor case, have further expedited market inspections and raids on liquor shops. They have also geared up lab test of samples collected from the market in order to ascertain the quality of liquor being sold.
Both these institutions have also activated a joint mechanism to continue such raids throughout the year. “As we are aware that traders are using recognized brands to market their duplicate liquor, we will deploy the joint mechanism to control such practice in the future,” said Bhandari.
Meanwhile, IRD has issued directives to liquor manufacturers to deploy their own resources to check circulation of duplicate liquor. It has also asked companies to suspend distributors and outlets dealing with duplicate brands.
The Department has also suggested to the companies to appoint their authorized distributors and retailers, so that consumers could buy genuine liquor products.
milan@myrepublica.com
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