Intertek (www.intertek.com)
 

Product Conformity Programme for Exports to Kenya

Industries serviced: Government & Institutions

To assure Kenyan consumers of the quality and safety of goods, and to protect Kenyan manufacturers from unfair competition, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), a statutory organisation of the government of Kenya, has implemented guidelines called the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) to Standards Programme.

In November 2008, Intertek was awarded a further 3 year contract by KEBS to operate the PVoC programme on its behalf in regions such as the UK, Central Europe, Central and Southern America, Middle East, Central and South Africa. For a full list of the distribution of regions, please email info.government@intertek.com, or contact your local Intertek dedicated Kenya expert whose details can be found in the PVoC Country Office list.

KEBS Responsibilities

KEBS is responsible for the adoption and application of the standards for both imported and domestically manufactured products in the Kenyan market. The PVoC to Standards Programme is a conformity assessment and verification procedure applied to specific Goods/Products at the respective exporting countries, to ensure their compliance with the applicable Kenyan Technical Regulations and Mandatory Standards or approved equivalents.

The primary objective of applying Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) to Standards Programme is:

  • Ensure quality of products, health and safety
  • Protect the environment for Kenyans
  • Meet requirements of the PVoC

All consignments subject to PVoC must obtain a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by an authorised PVoC Agent, such as Intertek, prior to shipment.

The CoC is a mandatory Customs Clearance document in Kenya; consignments arriving at Kenyan Ports without this document will be denied entry into the country.

In exceptional cases, at the sole discretion of KEBS, specific consignments may be allowed to undergo destination inspections after receiving the appropriate application from importers. Such consignments will be subject to a penalty of 15% of the CIF value of the goods, plus 15% bond, and the testing and inspection costs. All other expenses incurred at destination will be borne solely by the importer.

The key elements undertaken in the PVoC are:

  • Physical inspection prior to shipment
  • Sampling, testing and analysis in accredited laboratories
  • Quality Audit of production processes
  • Documentary review of conformity with regulations
  • Issuance of Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or Non Conformity Report (NCR) as appropriate.

Responsibilities of:

Importers

Ensure their suppliers are conversant with import quality requirements and that their consignments are accompanied with a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) from the authorised PVoC Agent.

Exporters

Ensure their products or goods meet the regulations and quality requirements of Kenya before shipment by obtaining the necessary Certificate of Conformity (CoC) from the authorised PVoC Agent for all products subject to the PVoC programme.

KEBS:  Ensures that only quality goods gain entry into the country, as specified by the Standards Act Cap 496, Laws of Kenya and the Quality Imports Order No.78 July 2005, thereby offering the necessary protection to Kenya's consumers in safety, health and environmental matters.

Routes of Certification

Route A - Occasional Exports

No registration
Testing and Inspection
Issuance of CoC
 
Route B - Frequent Exporters

Product registration
Inspection and random testing
Issuance of CoC
 
Route C - Frequent Exporters and High Volume Manufacturers

Product licensing
Licence review and random testing
Issuance of CoC
Intertek can provide a tailor-made service that meets your particular needs, including:
Submission of assessment requests online
Automated e-mails for status of certificates
Flexible certificate delivery solutions for high volume users

Additional Information for Exporters of Wood Packaging Material

The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) have announced that all shipment packaging  material made up of wood and wooden packaging material such as planks, crates that is imported into Kenya shall be adequately treated and marked in line with the International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measure (ISPM) No. 15 requirements. Failure to do so may result in shipments facing delays at Kenyan Customs.

A copy of the KEPHIS memo issued to all Kenyan Importers is available within the Resources section on the right of this page.

 

to see how Intertek can help your organization with Product Conformity Programme for Exports to Kenya.

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