By Ibrahim Sesay
A fact-finding report by the Citizen Rights Network Sierra Leone (CRN-SL) has rejected public claims by certain Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that ethanol products stored by KADCO Company are “expired” and unsafe, stating that such conclusions are technically inaccurate without laboratory verification.
The report, dated 16 January 2026, is titled :“CRN-SL Fact Findings Report on the Status and Alternative Use of Stored Ethanol Products at KADCO Company” and was issued following public concerns raised by CSOs operating under the theme of food and feed safety.
According to the report, KADCO Company has been in possession of a bulk quantity of ethanol-based products stored over an extended period. The company reportedly raised official concerns as far back as two years ago, notifying the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau and the National Consumer Protection Commission, requesting technical guidance on how to handle the stored ethanol amid fears it may have suffered reduced potency due to prolonged storage.
Despite repeated follow-ups, CRN-SL noted that no formal directive, inspection report, disposal plan or reclassification guidance was provided by the Ministry during that period; leaving the company without clear regulatory direction on what practical steps to take.
The report explains that certain CSOs recently conducted an inspection and publicly described the stored ethanol as “expired,” suggesting regulatory non-compliance and possible risks to public health and safety.
However, CRN-SL warned that publicly branding ethanol products as “expired” without scientific confirmation may be misleading and could unjustly damage lawful businesses.
“Labeling the product as ‘expired’ without laboratory analysis is technically inaccurate,” the report emphasized.
CRN-SL’s report offers a technical explanation of ethanol and how it behaves over time. It notes that ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is chemically stable and does not degrade into toxic substances in the same way pharmaceuticals or consumable goods do.
The report highlights that ethanol’s effectiveness depends largely on its concentration level, rather than its age alone. It further stated that ethanol does not decompose into harmful compounds over time and that what changes in storage conditions is usually potency not safety.
CRN-SL attributed the reduction in ethanol potency to factors considered legitimate and non-negligent, including:
- Long-term storage, which can trigger gradual evaporation, especially where containers are not fully filled
- High temperatures, which can accelerate evaporation
- Minor seal degradation over time, causing vapor loss
- Delayed regulatory guidance, which prevented early reprocessing or reallocation
Importantly, the report noted that none of those factors automatically makes ethanol unsafe. Instead, the report emphasized that such conditions mainly affect whether the product can still meet the 70% standard required for medical-grade disinfection in clinical environments.
CRN-SL said internal assessments suggest the ethanol concentration has dropped below 70%, but the report maintained that ethanol at lower concentrations still has significant value for multiple operational and industrial purposes.
The report stated that there is no evidence the ethanol is contaminated, toxic or harmful and that it remains suitable for repurposing under the correct classification.
Among the recommended alternative uses, CRN-SL listed:
- Industrial cleaning and degreasing of machinery, tools and metal surfaces
- Surface sanitization for non-clinical areas such as offices, warehouses and vehicles
- Use as a laboratory solvent
- Manufacturing inputs including detergents and recalibrated disinfectant concentrates
- Fuel and energy applications such as ethanol burners and biofuel blending
The report also listed examples of affected products, including 95% ethanol, 90% ethanol, 80% ethanol, ethanol-based surface cleaners and ethanol solutions for non-medical sterilization.
CRN-SL concluded that KADCO Company acted in good faith and in a responsible manner, citing steps taken by the company, including notifying relevant authorities early, storing the products securely, documenting the materials and refraining from distributing the ethanol for medical or consumer use while waiting for guidance.
“That demonstrates responsible corporate conduct not negligence,” CRN-SL stated.
CRN-SL criticized the CSO claims, stating that describing the ethanol as expired lacked laboratory confirmation, regulatory authority and consideration of ethanol’s chemical properties. The report also warned that such claims could misinform the public and damage lawful enterprises unnecessarily.
In its recommendations, CRN-SL called for:
- Immediate reclassification of ethanol for non-medical use
- Relevant MDAs to issue formal guidance instead of punitive assumptions
- Independent laboratory testing to confirm exact concentrations
- Protection of the company’s reputation against unverified public claims
- A repurposing and relabeling plan under regulatory supervision
The report was signed by Ibrahim Bai Koroma, Executive Director of CRN-SL, under the subject: “Assessment of Ethanol Products Alleged to Be ‘Expired’.”
CRN-SL urged stakeholders to adopt evidence-based assessments, stressing that regulatory response and scientific verification remain essential to protect public safety while ensuring fairness to compliant businesses operating within the law.
