The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is warning members of the public from consuming goods that do not have standardisation marks (S-Mark).
Further, the watchdog has also warned importers, manufacturers, retailers, and stockists who sell packaged foods, chemicals, and other products without proper labelling or an S-Mark.
“The public is also hereby advised that the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) cannot vouch for the quality and safety of products without appropriate packaging, labelling information, and verifiable Standardization Marks,” KEBs said.
However, the regulator has noted that it shall continue undertaking 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 under the law,” it added.
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S-Mark, outlined under the Standard Act, indicates that a manufactured good meets quality requirements.
Under this, KEBS conducts a product certification scheme that requires manufacturers to implement agreed-upon supervision and control during manufacturing to ensure the quality of products.
This is done by implementing a certification contract between the manufacturer and KEBS to comply with relevant standards.
A permit to use the S-Mark on a product is issued after KEBS has undertaken a factory inspection and tested samples of the products.
The certified manufacturer must adhere to the certification scheme of supervision throughout the validity period of two (2) years.
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,” it stated.
The warning comes after top officials at the agency were sent home after condemned sugars were released to the public.
