State steps up efforts to shield market from fake goods

By Nicholas Waitathu

Nairobi, Kenya: Unscrupulous traders and companies found selling counterfeit goods will face the full force of the law, a Government agency warned Wednesday.

Speaking during an event to mark the World Accreditation Day in Nairobi, Kenya Accreditation Services (Kenas) officials said dishonest dealers have denied the economy much-needed revenue, with their products contributing to the unemployment, illness and death of consumers.

Kenas Chief Executive Sammy Milgo said efforts are being intensified to ensure that all certification agencies, which include the Kenya Bureau of Standards, have the capacity to carry out specific conformity assessment activities to shield the local market from fake commodities.

It is estimated counterfeits cost the Government Sh30 billion a year in lost revenue.

Kenas said the local market is susceptible to counterfeits due to vulnerabilities in the capability of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CAB) to test the suitability of goods.

“To protect consumers from fake goods, we have to ensure that these organisations are capable in terms of machinery and human resource,” Milgo said. 

CABs are organisations that assess the compliance or conformance of products, services and suppliers to guided specifications and requirements.

They include personnel certification bodies, food testing and processing bodies, testing and calibration laboratories, proficiency testing laboratories, inspection and verification bodies, medical laboratories and certification bodies.

Industrialisation and Enterprise Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed urged stakeholders to embrace the culture of standards to benefit business.

“This is vital because products and services that are exported should not risk the heath or security of consumers,” he said, speaking at the event.

According to the Anti-Counterfeit Agency, the products most commonly forged are fast-moving consumables such as medicine, beverages, dry cell batteries, pens, cosmetics and electronics.