The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has banned eight hand sanitizer brands over the regulator’s claim that the brands do not meet requirements.
In a statement sent to newsrooms on Sunday, KEBS maintained that it had reached the decision to blacklist the select brand of sanitizers after failing quality tests hence the withdrawal of standardization mark permits from the manufacturers.
“The manufacturers are required to recall all the substandard sanitizers from the market and institute corrective actions whose effectiveness shall be confirmed by KEBS before the suspension of permits is lifted. KEBS shall then inform the public once the products have met the requirements of the Kenya Standards to ensure they are safe and of good quality,” said the quality and standards regulator.
The brands in question include Alphax, Clean Essentials, G& L, Gentle Care, Lili, Msiri, Shi shi Natural, and Spotless Advanced.
The brands are manufactured by Kings Palace Ruiru, Virtuelle Products, Orange Pharma, Bidco Africa, Kenbrands International Company, Mafleva International Limited, Shishi Naturals, Havana East African Trading Limited respectively.
‘KEBS shall continue to undertake market surveillance and factory inspections. Substandard products found will be seized for destruction at the expense of the owner in addition to any other legal action as provided under the law,” added the regulator.
Further, the regulator has appealed to Kenyans to report substandard brands in the market via KEBS’ initiative dubbed Wajibika na KEBS.
Sanitizer Craze
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, hand sanitizers have become a staple both at home and at business establishments.
Two months ago, the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) ordered Cleanshelf Supermarkets to refund customers for overcharging for the product which has been classified as an essential commodity.
The government itself embarked on manufacturing free hand sanitizers which have ostensibly been distributed to Kenyans.
