The Kenya Bureau of Standards has officially approved nine companies to inspect imported goods before they leave exporting countries, strengthening measures to ensure products entering Kenya meet safety and quality standards.
The move comes under KEBS’ Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards (PVoC) programme, designed to prevent substandard goods from reaching local markets.
Under the initiative, inspection companies appointed by KEBS carry out thorough checks either at the source or when goods arrive at Kenyan ports.
The appointed firms operate on a three-year contract cycle, and the latest list includes Quality Inspection Services Inc. (Japan), China Hansom Inspection and Certificate Co. Ltd, ASTC As Test Certification Tech. (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, China Certification and Inspection Group Inspection Company Limited, Intertek International Limited, Cotecna Inspection SA, TUV Rheinland Middle East FZE, Bureau Veritas Kenya Limited, and Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) SA.
KEBS confirmed that these firms will start offering PVoC services for general goods from February 19, 2026.
“We wish to inform all stakeholders and the public that the following inspection companies have been contracted to offer VoC services for general goods for the next three years with effect from 19th February 2026,” the notice states.
The agency explained that the countries and regions assigned to each inspection company are detailed in the PVoC manual, which is available on KEBS’ website.
From March 1, 2026, all shipments from countries with KEBS-approved inspection firms must be accompanied by Certificates of Conformity (CoCs), verifying that the goods meet the nation’s technical, safety, and quality standards.
“All consignments shipped on or after 1st March 2026 from countries where KEBS has appointed inspection companies should be accompanied by Certificates of Conformity (CoCs). Otherwise, the same shall be subjected to destination inspection at a fee equivalent to five per cent of the approved customs values as stipulated in Legal Notice No. 78(2020),” reads the notice.
For goods coming from countries without designated inspection companies, KEBS said they will still undergo destination inspection, with a fee of 0.6 per cent of the approved customs value, subject to a minimum of USD 300 and a maximum of USD 3,500. Additional testing fees may apply when samples are selected for laboratory analysis.
