Expired Tea Stock Impounded in Juba

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(JUBA) – Authorities in South Sudan seized more than 230 bags of expired blend tea in Juba as part of a wider inspection campaign targeting unsafe and substandard goods on sale in local markets.

The South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) confirmed that 235 bags of expired tea, originally manufactured at Ngorongo Tea Factory in Kenya’s Kiambu County, were impounded during routine market checks. Officials said the seizure was part of ongoing measures to protect consumers from expired, counterfeit, and low-quality imports.

In a public statement, the agency urged consumers to remain alert and to report any suspicious products.

“Safeguarding public health and enforcing quality standards remain a top priority,” the SSNBS noted.

Records seen by inspectors indicated that the importer purchased the tea in two consignments. The first batch of 750 bags was bought on 21 July 2023, followed by a second batch of 1,900 bags a week later. The products were marked with a two year shelf life. At the time of seizure, 630 bags had not been sold, leaving 235 expired bags circulating in the Juba market.

Ngorongo Tea Factory manager, Stephen King’ori, defended the company, explaining that the tea had been dispatched directly after production. He suggested the stock may have expired while being stored in warehouses.

“That remains the problem of the importer,” he said.

The seizure followed similar interventions in recent weeks, where trucks carrying maize flour, maize grain with high aflatoxin levels, and insect infested beans were intercepted at the Nimule border before entering Juba. Laboratory tests confirmed the consignments were unsuitable for trade and consumption, leading to their return to the country of origin.

The SSNBS stressed that monitoring will continue and called on traders to comply with national safety standards. The agency said that ensuring the integrity of goods in South Sudan’s market is not only vital for public health but also for consumer confidence and the country’s growing trade reputation.