Importers bringing goods into Kenya are set to face changes in clearance procedures following new guidelines issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) after the expiry of key inspection contracts.
In a notice published on Tuesday, KEBS announced that contracts under the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme expired on February 8, bringing to an end the three-year cycle that allowed private inspection firms to verify goods before shipment to Kenya.
The PVoC programme requires products destined for Kenya to be inspected in the country of export and issued a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) confirming they meet Kenyan standards before they are shipped.
Following the expiry of the contracts, KEBS said the private inspection firms previously contracted have stopped receiving new certification requests, creating a temporary shift in how imports will be processed.
“KEBS informs all stakeholders that it is in the process of procuring new inspection companies for the next three-year PVoC contract cycle and will provide updates on the resumption of PVoC services,” the Bureau said.
KEBS clarified that certification requests submitted on or before February 8 will still be processed, provided inspections are completed and either a certificate of conformity or non-conformity is issued by February 28, 2026.
The authority said imports shipped from February 9 without a valid certificate of conformity issued before shipment will now undergo destination inspection at Kenya’s ports of entry.
“Imports shipped on board from February 9 without a valid CoC shall be subjected to Destination Inspection, upon payment of an inspection fee equivalent to 0.6 per cent of the approved customs value,” KEBS stated.
Destination inspection means goods will be physically checked upon arrival in the country, a process that could increase clearance timelines and operational costs for traders.
The bureau said the transition comes as it rolls out new inspection technologies and strengthens oversight to address concerns about unsafe or substandard consumer goods entering the Kenyan market.
KEBS advised importers to conduct pre-import testing of products in accredited laboratories and to ensure goods comply with Kenyan standards before shipment to avoid delays and penalties.
Importers were also encouraged to register products under the KEBS Diamond Mark Scheme, which certifies locally manufactured and imported goods that meet quality requirements and can help simplify the importation process.
KEBS noted that goods originating from East African Community partner states will continue to be processed under existing regional quality and standards frameworks.
The bureau urged importers, clearing agents and other trade stakeholders to comply with the new requirements to avoid additional costs, shipment delays and possible penalties as the government seeks to maintain quality control on goods entering the country.
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