Kebs develops new regulations for industrial chemical use

I was surprised to learn that the Kenya Bureau of Standards is about to conclude the process of engaging a new company without subjecting the candidates to thorough background checks. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The standards authority said its technical committee on industrial solvents and chemicals is in the final stages of approving the final draft standard for code of practice for safety of methanol.
  • In May, over 100 people died in Kiambu, Makueni, Kitui and Embu counties after taking alcoholic beverages laced with methanol.

Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has developed new regulations for trading in industrial chemicals in a bid to check their increased use in alcoholic drinks.

Kenya has been grappling with increased use of methanol in alcoholic beverages that has caused deaths of consumers.

The standards authority said its technical committee on industrial solvents and chemicals is in the final stages of approving the final draft standard for code of practice for safety of methanol.

β€œThe code is meant to address an urgent emerging public health and safety issue regarding misuse of methanol in alcoholic drinks and has been formulated using the procedure for urgent Kenya standards.”

The standards organisation said all grades of methanol except those meant for laboratory use shall be denatured with denatonium benzoate to prevent oral intake by vulnerable consumers,” the standards authority said in advertisement in the Daily Nation on Friday.

SAFETY MEASURES
The importers of methanol will be required to comply with the standard.

The code prescribes safety measures aimed at reducing to tolerable levels, risk resulting from intended use and reasonable foreseeable misuse of methanol meant for industrial and laboratory use.

The code also outlines preventive measures aimed at achieving tolerable risk associated with methanol, for vulnerable consumers especially the ones in alcoholic beverage, laboratory and industrial sectors.

In May, over 100 people died in Kiambu, Makueni, Kitui and Embu counties after taking alcoholic beverages laced with methanol.