NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) has given all individuals and companies involved in sugar repackaging until November 17, 2025, to register with the regulator, in a move aimed at tightening oversight and safeguarding consumers from unsafe products.
In a public notice, the Board said the directive seeks to strengthen traceability and accountability in the sugar supply chain, amid mounting concerns over the integrity and quality of sugar products on the market.
Citing Section 61 of the Sugar Act, 2024, and the Sugar (General) Regulations, 2025, KSB warned that no person or entity will be allowed to repackage sugar for retail sale without formal clearance from the authority.
“All entities engaged in sugar repackaging are required to register with the Board by the prescribed deadline,” the notice read in part.
The regulator said the measure forms part of a broader set of reforms designed to streamline the sugar value chain, enhance quality control, and eliminate unscrupulous operators linked to the circulation of adulterated or substandard sugar.
“The registration process will ensure that only compliant operators participate in this segment of the sugar market,” the Board added.
Under the new directive, companies and individuals must submit their details and relevant documentation through the Board’s Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) portal.
Applicants who meet the prescribed standards on packaging, storage, and documentation will be approved and gazetted as licensed operators.
KSB further warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract sanctions, including suspension or revocation of repackaging rights, and possible legal action for persistent offenders.
The crackdown comes as the government intensifies efforts to clean up the sugar industry — a sector long plagued by illicit trade, weak quality control, and market inefficiencies.
Authorities say unregulated repackaging has opened the door for smuggled or contaminated sugar to infiltrate the market, posing health risks to consumers and undermining legitimate traders.
The Board urged stakeholders to seek further guidance from its Nairobi headquarters or visit its official website for detailed instructions on registration and compliance.
The initiative underscores the government’s renewed commitment to tightening oversight across the sugar supply chain — from cane production and milling to transport and retail — to protect farmers, promote fair competition, and ensure consumers access safe, quality sugar.
