Algerian Ministry disputes mineral water producer's import claims

The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion has issued a formal clarification following social media claims made by the manager of Ichmoul, a private mineral water producer. The producer, Benbellat, had released a video requesting urgent approval for a provisional import program (PPI) for spare parts, citing the need to restart production to provide aid to fire victims.

The Ministry categorically rejected these claims, describing them as “unfounded allegations” and “erroneous information.” According to the Ministry, the application for 10,522 spare parts across 709 tariff positions has not been rejected or frozen. Instead, officials requested on August 20 that the operator modify the program due to the nature and volume of the request.

The Ministry stated that the visa has not been granted because the operator has yet to respond to the request for modifications. Furthermore, the Ministry reserved the right to pursue legal action against any party that spreads misinformation intended to mislead public opinion or damage the institution's reputation.