Mozambique: INAE looks at online sale of alcoholic beverages – Carta

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Mozambique: INAE looks at online sale of alcoholic beverages – Carta

8:06 CAT | 17 Feb 2021

File photo: O País

Boosted by the fight against Covid-1, online sales have gained share in the commercialisation of food products in Mozambique. And this was before January 13, after which they seem to have gained extra weight with the expansion into selling alcoholic beverages.

With the imposition of restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages by the President of the Republic (from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from Monday to Saturday only), some merchants have resorted to digital platforms to drive sales.

But the National Inspection of Economic Activities (INAE), which claims to have detected this trade in the week 03 to 15 February, says home-delivery sales are failing to observe Covid-19 prevention measures.

“This type of business is illegal, as the legislation does not provide for this type of economic activity,” said INAE spokesman Tomás Timba.

“There are many risks for consumers [in online sale of alcohol], who do not know what procedures the product follows until it is delivered to their home,” added Timba.

He added that INAE had also found that some residences had been transformed into establishments dedicated to the sale of alcoholic beverages.

At its Tuesday press conference, the INAE revealed that it had destroyed food and hygiene products valued at 28,920 meticais, on the grounds of their being out of date. Among the products were 11 boxes of tea seized in the city of Nampula.

Timba also noted that the INAE had identified failure to comply with opening hours at convenience stores attached to gas stations, which must, he pointed out, close at 6:00 p.m. like all other commercial establishments.

The INAE said it had notified 59 economic agents of infractions and suspended 69 commercial establishments during the past week.

By Marta Afonso

Source: Carta de Moçambique