The government has reversed an earlier requirement for imported goods to be inspected in their country of origin.
This comes after local traders and importers complained of the high fees charged by private inspection agencies.
The importers also complained of delays in the importation process as goods await clearance from abroad. This, in addition to the high costs of navigating through standards in foreign countries.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) had contracted these agencies; Cotecna Inspection SA, Bureau Veritas, and Intertek International to check goods for compliance with Kenyan laws.
According to Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, importers are now free to ship goods, after which inspection will be done locally. This will ease delays and also reduce the high cost of importing goods.
The order to shift to ‘Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards’ was originally aimed at curbing the flow of counterfeits into the country. It also sought to reduce uninspected goods that fuelled evasion of tax.
Thus, In January, Mr Munya ordered KEBS to stop inspecting cargo at entry ports. The CS directed all importers to shift to the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards (PVOC).
“It has been a huge problem for small-scale traders to have their goods cleared by foreign standards bodies. We have thus reviewed the decision. It is not compulsory to test the goods at the country of origin,” Mr Munya said.
Going forward, the KEBS-hired inspectors will work alongside the national quality inspectors of countries of origin.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is a government agency. It is responsible for governing and maintaining the standards and practices of metrology in Kenya. Its aims and objectives include preparation of standards relating to products, measurements, materials, and processes.
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