• “All consignments shipped on or after March 1, 2026 from countries with appointed inspection firms must carry Certificates of Conformity. Shipments without CoCs will face destination inspection at a fee equal to five percent of the customs value,” KEBS said in its statement.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has given nine companies the green light to inspect imports before they reach Kenya. The move aims to block substandard goods and speed up cargo clearance under the Pre‑Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme.

KEBS announced the decision on February 18, 2026. The licensed firms will check and certify goods in their countries of origin. Exporters must now secure a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to prove their products meet Kenya’s safety, health, and environmental standards.

“All consignments shipped on or after March 1, 2026 from countries with appointed inspection firms must carry Certificates of Conformity. Shipments without CoCs will face destination inspection at a fee equal to five percent of the customs value,” KEBS said in its statement.

Goods from countries without appointed inspectors will still undergo destination checks. Importers will pay 0.6 percent of the customs value, with fees ranging between USD 300 and USD 3,500, plus testing costs if samples are taken.

Kenya has faced rising cases of counterfeit and poor‑quality products entering through key points like the Port of Mombasa and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

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Importers have long complained about delays, high storage costs, and supply chain disruptions caused by lengthy verification processes. KEBS believes expanding the number of inspection agencies will ease congestion and cut clearance times.

 The Nine Licensed Firms

1. Quality Inspection Services Inc. (Japan)

2. China Hansom Inspection and Certificate Co. Ltd

3. ASTC As Test Certification Tech. (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd

4. China Certification and Inspection Group Inspection Company Ltd

5. Intertek International Ltd

6. Cotecna Inspection SA

7. TUV Rheinland Middle East FZE

8. Bureau Veritas Kenya Ltd

9. Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) SA

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