The Standard Organisation of Nigeria
(SON), the statutory body that is vested
with the responsibility of standardizing
and regulating the quality of all products
in Nigeria, has debunked the claims of a
fake Amstel Malta in circulation.
Mr. Fred Akingbesote, Deputy Director,
who represented the Director General of
the organisation, explained to Journalists in
Lagos on Thursday that Nigerian Breweries
have met all SON safety and quality
requirements and have complied with all
requirements of the new National
Industrial Standard (NIS) logo.
In August 2016, Amstel Malta, the
premium, low sugar formulated malt drink
from the stable of Nigerian Breweries,
launched a new credential campaign ‘Why
Add More?’ Shortly after the campaign, a
picture went viral that a fake version of the
Amstel Malta is in circulation.
This was because the new packaging wore
the new NIS logo while the old packaging
had the old NIS logo of the Standard
Organisation of Nigeria.
Akingbesote confirmed that the NIS logo on
Amstel Malta is the highest mark of quality
from SON and commended the
management of Nigerian Breweries for its
commitment to the highest quality
standard. He stated that Nigerian
Breweries is one of the first companies to
adopt the new NIS logo which was
launched in September 2015.
He maintained that the people behind the
defamation are just playing on the
intelligence of Nigerians. “We have a web
site (www.son.gov.ng ) which contains all
information on our standards and quality
regulations. Every Nigerian who has doubts
about any product certified by SON should
crosscheck the facts”, he said.
Also speaking on the occasion, Kufre
Ekanem, Nigerian Breweries Plc Corporate
Affairs Adviser explained that the Amstel
Malta was one of the first brands to
comply with SON directives.
He added that the brand revised its
packaging in line with the guidelines and
approval of National Agency for Food,
Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC
and in compliance with the new
mandatory NIS quality logo from the SON
“In the normal course of product and
packaging renovation, old packaging and the
new introduction co-exist in the market until
the old one dries out. In view of the twelve
month shelf life, we currently have Amstel
Malta with both the old and new packaging in
some parts of the market,” Ekanem said.
He maintained that Nigerian Breweries is a
world class multinational company that has
operated in Nigeria for over 70 years and
that the quality of its brands has been one
of the key success factors of the company
across these decades. “Every pack of Amstel
Malta is produced to the highest quality-
control standards of Nigerian Breweries,” he
noted.
Ekanem assured consumers that every pack
of Amstel Malta contains the same
premium quality malt drink that they have
come to love.
He informed that the company has
reported the defamation attempt to the
police and remains grateful that the Police
authorities are investigating the case
further.
To quote Kufre; “some yet-to-be identified
third parties have been spreading falsehood
about the brand through a well-funded and
coordinated public campaign. One of the
smear campaigns is that there is “fake” Amstel
Malta in the market which has a fake NlS logo
which is not approved by the SON. The
activities of these third parties include the
production and circulation of videos, news
stories and photographs amongst others on
social media.”
“The videos, pictures and rumours in
circulation in the social media sphere are
obviously false!…. We have reported this
defamation attempt to the Police and we are
grateful that the Police authorities are
investigating further”
“We appeal to our teeming customers and
consumers to please ignore these falsehood
and smear campaigns, no matter what form
they mutate to. If you receive any further
defamatory material about Amstel Malta,
kindly show your support for Amstel Malta by
forwarding it to us stating the name, phone
number or email address of the source.
This can be sent via SMS, WhatsApp or email
to 08162624553 and/or thetruth.amstel@nbplc.
com. All responses will be collated and sent to
the Police to assist them in their
investigations”
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