The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is notifying importers, manufacturers, retailers, stockists, all traders and the public that it is illegal to sell packaged foods, chemicals and other products without proper labelling, a standardization mark (S-Mark), as outlined in the Standards Act and other relevant regulations.
The public is also being advised that the KEBS cannot vouch for the quality and safety of products without appropriate packaging, labelling information, and verifiable Standardization Marks.
The KEBS shall continue to undertake market surveillance and factory inspections. Substandard products found will be seized for destruction at the expense of the importer, manufacturer and/or retailer owner in addition to any other legal action as provided for under the law.
The KEBS conducts a product certification scheme that requires manufacturers to implement agreed supervision and control during manufacturing to ensure the quality of products. This is done through the implementation of a certification contract between the manufacturer and the KEBS to comply with relevant standards.
A permit to use the standardization mark on a product is issued after the KEBS has undertaken factory inspection and tested samples of the products. The certified manufacturer is then required to adhere to the certification scheme of supervision throughout the validity period of two years.
The KEBS also undertakes surveillance and testing of the products offered for sale in the marketplace to ensure that manufacturers comply after they are granted a permit.
Following consistent market surveillance and testing, it has been established that there still exist some products in the market without Standardization Marks and therefore do not comply with the requirement of Kenya standards and the Standards Act, Cap 496, Laws of Kenya.
We encourage the public to be vigilant and inform the KEBS upon encountering ANY products suspected to be substandard.
Wajibika Na KEBS is a program that allows the public to report cases of substandard products. To Wajibika, verify whether the S-Mark permit on your product is valid by sending the code underneath the S-Mark to 20023 (SM#Code) or the ISM Mark to 20023 (ISM#UCR NO) to get product manufacturing details.
If the details are different, invalid or not traceable to the platform, kindly report to the KEBS through Toll Free Number 1545 during official working hours 8.00 AM to 1.00 PM and 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM, Monday to Friday.
Verify the KEBS staff carrying out the Market Surveillance, by sending the staff number to 20023. If you are aware of any kind of foul play by any manufacturer, also report those cases to KEBS through the toll- free number.