Bissau:Seven companies were shut down in Bissau during the fifth phase of water quality inspection and control conducted by the Interministerial Commission from November 3 to 5.
According to Agencia de Noticias da Guine, of the seven companies closed, five were involved in packaging water in plastic bags, and two were plastic bag production factories. The inspection will continue in other regions of the country with the main goal of ensuring the population has access to safe drinking water while also protecting the environment from plastic waste.
The operation included inspectors from various state services and technicians from ACOBES (Association of Consumers of Goods and Services of Guinea-Bissau) and targeted all industries packaging water in plastic bags, which are prohibited by law in Guinea-Bissau. On November 4, the inspection team from the Ministry of Natural Resources identified "serious violations" by three companies located in Bairro Militar, Djolo, and Canária. These companies had illegally resumed the production of water in plastic bags by breaking the seals on doors that had been previously secured by inspectors in August.
The report indicates that due to this "flagrant disobedience to authorities," the Commission immediately issued closure notices to the owners, who will be formally notified of their legal violations.