Kebs meets importers over new quality mark

Kebs Managing Director, Mr Charles Ongwae (centre) when he met importers and clearing agents over the new quality mark. YVONNE KAWIRA |

By  YVONNE KAWIRA

What you need to know:

  • Importers from the East African Community (EAC) member states dealing with goods from Partner States are not required to apply for the sticker, but goods imported from COMESA will require the mark.
  • However, according to Kebs, special consideration will be offered to importers who had already pre-ordered their goods in the country, for a period of three months after which, permission to use the mark shall be granted on a case by case.
  • “The new system’s objective, is to curtail rampant faking of KEBS quality marks and also provide a platform, through which Kebs will carry out real-time field verification and inspection of goods bearing the agency’s quality certification marks,” Mr Ongwae said.

The Kenya Bureau of standards (Kebs) has held a briefing for over 200 importers and clearing agents on the new Import Standardization Mark (ISM) sticker set to take stage this August.

According to a statement from Kebs, the new mark provides a levelled playing field for all players in the market as only genuine certified products will be allowed in the market.

Importers and clearing agents now have less than 10 days to apply and acquire the new mark for their goods to be accepted into the country.

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However, according to Kebs, special consideration will be offered to importers who had already pre-ordered their goods in the country, for a period of three months after which, permission to use the mark shall be granted on a case by case.

Kebs Managing Director, Mr Charles Ongwae, said the new directive is aimed at safeguarding Kenyans from unscrupulous dealers, who have been faking KEBS marks of quality.

“The new system’s objective, is to curtail rampant faking of KEBS quality marks and also provide a platform, through which Kebs will carry out real-time field verification and inspection of goods bearing the agency’s quality certification marks,” Mr Ongwae said.

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

Importers from the East African Community (EAC) member states dealing with goods from Partner States are not required to apply for the sticker, but goods imported from COMESA will require the mark.

The new mark will be issued as stickers that are specific to each product/consignment. They will bear security features plus a QR code that customers can be able to scan using their smart phones and hence receive in exact quantities commensurate to the imported retail units.

The new ISM will come along with secure security features, some visible to the naked eye while others can only be seen using a UV Light lamp, complete with track and trace software/ technology. Finished ISM stickers will have a code encrypted with details about the product and certification status for traceability purposes.

“The new mechanism, can be verified in the market as it provides a differentiating criteria and appropriate technology for identification,” said Mr Ongwae.

To apply for the new Import Standardization Mark, importers and clearing agents are required to submit copies of; certificate of conformity, import declaration form and customs entry forms to the bureau. The process will take 48 hours.

The sticker will cost Sh0. 49 per sticker payable to KEBS and shall be applied to each retail unit.

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