NAIROBI, Kenya — Importers bringing cargo into Kenya will now have to comply with new procedures after the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) confirmed that its Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) contracts have expired.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 10, KEBS said the contracts lapsed on February 8, marking the end of the most recent three-year cycle under which private inspection firms were engaged to verify goods before shipment to Kenya.
Under the PVoC programme, inspection firms assess products for quality, safety and compliance with Kenyan standards in the country of export before the goods are allowed into the local market.
KEBS said that following the expiry of the contracts, the inspection firms have withdrawn their services and are no longer accepting new certification requests.
However, the bureau offered limited relief to importers who had already initiated the process.
According to KEBS, any inspection request submitted on or before February 8 will still be processed, provided that the inspection is completed and either a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or a non-conformity report is issued by February 28.
This transitional window is intended to minimise disruption for traders whose consignments were already in progress at the time the contracts expired.
KEBS said it is in the process of sourcing new inspection companies for the next PVoC contract period.
The bureau noted that importers and other stakeholders will be formally notified once the new service providers are in place and the programme is fully operational again.
Until then, KEBS urged traders to seek clarification and avoid initiating processes that fall outside the transitional arrangements.
KEBS clarified that goods originating from East African Community (EAC) partner states will continue to be handled under existing regional standards and conformity arrangements.
The bureau said intra-EAC trade remains governed by harmonised standards and mutual recognition frameworks, which are not affected by the lapse of the PVoC contracts.
KEBS warned that failure to comply with the updated procedures could result in delays at ports of entry, penalties, or additional costs to importers.
The bureau urged traders, clearing agents and logistics providers to stay informed and ensure full compliance during the transition period.
