Nairobi, April 26 -- Sugar millers, the primary producers of denatured ethanol, have been handed a boost after the government zero-rated the product to shield them from cheaper imports.

Denatured alcohol is one into which a substance has been added, making the mixture unfit for human use.

It has a wide array of domestic and industrial uses including as a disinfectant, solvent, cleaning agent, fuel, and in printmaking.

Zero-rated goods are products that are exempt from value-added taxation.

Often, products and services in this category are those that are deemed vital, such as food items, sanitary products, and animal feeds. Zero-rating makes them more affordable for lower-income consumers.

The decision by the State to zero-rate ethano...