Firms given ultimatum on standards upgrade

East African Community and Northern Corridor Development Cabinet Secretary Nominee Peter Munya during the vetting by the National Assembly Committee on Appointment on Thursday 08/02/18. [Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Companies that have not upgraded their quality standards to the current global levels risk having their certifications cancelled, the Government has said.

Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya (pictured) said yesterday firms have until September 15 to complete the transition from the now obsolete ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System) and ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System) to ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 9001:2015.

The businesses had been given three years in 2015 to upgrade the standards.

Remove claims

Mr Munya said the ministry had no intention of extending the deadline.

“I announce that by the date stated next month, all certifications that do not reflect the current levels will expire indefinitely and stand withdrawn,” said the CS.

“I am also directing KENAS (Kenya Accreditation Services) to fully enforce its accreditation arrangements with the three accredited certifications bodies to ensure that all certified organisations who will lose their certification return their certificates and take the necessary measures to inform their clients as well as remove any claims of certifications such as use of marks or logos, including in corporate stationery, marketing materials, websites and other brandings in building and vehicles.”

Lose certificates

According to data from the KENAS, the State entity that is in charge of certification activities, 38 per cent of certified organisations risk losing their certification.

The three accredited certifications bodies are the Kenya Bureau of Standards, SGS Kenya and Bureau Veritas.

Government procurement departments have specifically been warned against hiring any other certification body apart from the three while helping State agencies upgrade their standards.