Botswana bans imports of bottled natural, mineral water

GABORONE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's ministry of investment, trade and industry has issued a directive to ban importation of bottled natural and mineral water, said a statement issued by the ministry in Gaborone, capital of Botswana.

Peggy Serame, permanent secretary of the ministry on Thursday said in the statement that the government has imposed restrictions on the importation of bottled natural and mineral water through the Control of Goods, Prices and Other Charges Act.

Serame said implementation of the regulations would promote the competitiveness and sustainability of domestic water bottling sector.

The move is also intended to stimulate investment in the sector which would in turn lead to job creation and poverty reduction.

Botswana pays a high import bill for consumables, especially from the neighbouring South Africa. Enditem