The Liquor Control Board (“Board”) issues this Press Release in relation to your article titled, “Shut local distiller considering court decision” which was published in your Samoa Observer Edition on 28 July 2023, and your Editorial based on this article.
The article alleges that Mr Rankin’s company continues to be shut down even after it has satisfied all the requirements for his liquor license.
In May 2022, the Board invited all holders of licenses to manufacture liquor to a hearing, due to various complaints received and widely publicised concerning the alcohol contents of various locally manufactured liquor that are available for sale in the market. This was an opportunity for all licensees to explain and clarify documents submitted in support of their applications for a license to manufacture liquor.
Mr Rankin’s company Talofa Spirits and Liquor Company Limited (“the Company”) was also heard during this hearing, and following the hearing, a notice was issued to the Company of its non-compliance with the requirements for a manufacture of liquor as required under the Liquor Control Act 2020. The Company was also given the opportunity to provide information on 3 key requirements to be issued a license to manufacture liquor.
To date, the Company has not provided all these 3 key requirements particularly brewing methods and formula(e) to be used by a manufacturer, and qualifications of the brew master to be employed by the manufacturer. These are specific legislative requirements which are necessary for the protection of consumers, and to control the manufacture of liquor by a license holder.
All other manufacturers of ethanol-based alcohol are still closed to date due to non-compliance.
Lupe Tariu-Mataia
Secretary of the Alcohol Control Board
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Ua saunia lenei Pepa o Faamatalaga e le Pulega Faatonu o Ava Malosi (“Pulega) e tali atu ai i le faasalalauga na faaulutalaina i le Faaperetania “Shut local distiller considering court decision” a le Samoa Observer i lana lomiga o le aso 28 Iulai 2023.
O lenei pepa o faamatalaga e faamanino ai vaega i le mataupu ua taua ma le le faatumauina ai pea o le faaiuga a le Pulega i le tapunia o le kamupani a le susuga ia Rankin e oo mai i lenei taimi.
I le masina o Me 2022, na faailoa ai e le Pulega le avanoa mo falegaosi ava malosi uma o umia laisene mo le tolaulauina o a latou mau e tusa ai ma ni faaseā na taulimaina e le Pulega atoa ai ma atugaluga na faaalia e le mamalu o le atunuu e faatatau I ava malosi ua gaosia i Samoa nei ma o lo‘o faatauina atu i fefaatauaiga masani. O se avanoa na faamatuu atu i pisinisi uma o umia laisene mo fale gaosi, e tuuina mai ai faamatalaga ma faamalamalamaga ina ia mafai ona manino le Pulega i a latou tusi talosaga atoa ai ma faamatalaga moomia e lagolagoina ai a latou talosaga sa tuuina mai mo le iloiloga a le Pulega.
O lenei tolaulauga sa fofogaina ai se talosaga mai le kamupani a le susuga ia Rankin, ua faaigoaina o le ‘Talofa Spirits and Liquor Company Limited (“le Kamupani). I le mae’a ai o le tolaulauga, na tuuina atu ai se tusi le Kamupani i vaega e le’i mafai ona faamalieina ma usitaia i aiaiga ma vaega moomia mo le gaosiga o le ava malosi, e tusa ma le Tulafono o Ava Malosi 2020. Na tuuina atu foi i le Kamupani le avanoa e tuuina mai ai faamatalaga i luga o ni vaega se 3. Ma o vaega uma nei e ao ina usitaia ma faamalieina ona mafai lea ona faamatuu ai le laisene e pei ona talosaga ai.
E oo mai i le asō, e lei mafai ona tuuina mai e le Kamupani faamatalaga ma vaega moomia nei e 3 e aofia ai le faagasologa o le gaosiaina o ava malosi, o tusi pasi a lē / a e ua faafaigaluegaina e le falegaosi mo le gaosiga o le ava malosi. O tulaga moomia nei o lo o maoti i le tulafono, ma e tatau ona ausia ina ia mautinoale puipuia o tagata faatau, ma le puleaina lelei o le gaosiga o le ava malosi e i latou o umia laisene ava malosi.
E oo mai le asō, o lo o tapunia pea isi uma falegaosi ava malosi e faaaogaina le vailaau o le ethanol ona o le lē usitaia o tulaga moomia.
Lupe Tariu-Mataia
Failautusi ile Pulega Faatonu Fuafua Tatau Ava Malosi
