KRA announces new guidelines for Ethanol purchase, importation

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced a raft of new guidelines targeting local Ethanol traders. 

The measures, jointly outlined by the KRA Commissioner of Domestic Taxes, Mrs. Alice Owuor and her Customs & Border Control counterpart, Julius Musyoki, are geared at supporting ongoing initiatives’ to curb the illicit production and consumption of spirit based alcoholic beverages. 

Accordingly, the Authority, is now all set to enforce a set of new procedures governing access to ethanol from early next month (1st September 2015) to prevent abuse of the potable alcohol product. 

As part of the measures, persons intending to acquire ethanol, shall provide quarterly usage projections to Kenya Revenue Authority, with the first such projection covering the period October to December 2015, due by 1st September 2015. 

“The new guidelines, have been introduced, in the public interest and will limit purchase and importation of ethanol to traders registered under the Customs and Excise Act, as spirits excise manufacturers to guarantee product traceability,” the KRA Commissioners said. 

Further, traders seeking to purchase ethanol from local producers, shall always be subject to KRA’s verification. Transportation of the commodity, will also be strictly controlled through electronic cargo tracking fitted vehicles. 

The notice, further advises importers of ethanol to ensure the prompt declaration of the consignments a week before the consignments arrival. All sea-based imports, shall be consigned to, and exclusively cleared at, the Container Terminal, Kilindini Port, Mombasa.