Whisky companies worry over ban of sachet versions

The current issue of ban on sachet liquor according to the Director General of Cameroonian society of fermentation (Fermencam) has left him a "troubled" man, in his own words.

Reached by telephone yesterday, Maurice Djeutchoua revealed that the media did not fully understand the terms of the joint decree signed Friday, making a mandatory standard of spirit drinks.

Except that the accuracy of the Minister Emmanuel Bonde, in charge of the industry was clear: "the importers and local producers have in 24 months from this day to sell their stocks of finished products.

For the Fermencam DG, during the discussions with the Prime Minister, producers had requested a grace period of five years, in order to make a migration to new chains of production and packaging in bottles, while preserving jobs and to safeguard their investment.

"Finally, the Government has decided that it will give them 24 months. Maurice Djeutchoua says that whiskies in sachets represent 95% of the turnover of Fermencam, which currently has a stock of raw material from almost three months of production, which is done at and recorded requests.

"If production is definitely prohibited, it will be very difficult to survive. Because, he says, manufacturers and financiers believe that it takes 5 to 6 billion F and 12 months to design and launch a new channel for bottles whiskies. "

According to the Director General, Balu Chalapaka 'it takes at least four years to ensure proper migration and preserve our investment. The stock of finished products is shabby, unlike the stock of raw materials.

If the Government gives us some time to sell the raw material, with the financial partners, it can help to hold out", he says. On the side of Sofavin, it also experiences the shock. "But the Government has taken its decision. We are trying to consult with banks on how to quickly reinvest in a new channel" Pierre Tembakou, one of the managers of the company noted.