The Gabonese Food Safety Agency (AGASA) has taken a major decision by banning, from this Tuesday, the distribution and marketing of packaged water in sachets throughout the national territory.

This drastic measure follows a series of inspection and health audit missions that uncovered serious non-conformities within the sector. The official statement from AGASA indicates that inspections carried out in various production and distribution units revealed hygiene conditions deemed concerning , in violation of current health standards.

Even more alarming, physico-chemical and microbiological analyses of samples taken have confirmed the presence of real risks to consumer health .

In response to this situation, AGASA urges all relevant economic actors to contact the agency's Provincial Delegations to register . This initiative is part of a monitoring and support plan aimed at strengthening oversight of activities and bringing non-compliant entities into compliance.

The current ban is part of a comprehensive program to clean up the bottled water sector. This program aims to establish a complete inventory of production facilities and ensure the compliance of products offered to the public.

Eventually, the agency will publish two official lists:

1. That of economic operators authorized to continue their activities.
2. That of water brands deemed to comply with quality and health safety requirements.

AGASA insists that this decision has the sole purpose of protecting public health and guaranteeing the Gabonese population access to drinking water that strictly complies with both national and international food safety standards.