To help fulfil their responsibility to protect the consumers of Kenya, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), have announced the Pre-export Verification of Conformity program (PVoC)

The aim of the Kenya PVoC program is to minimise the risk to Kenya of unsafe and sub-standard goods from entering Kenya through the execution of conformity assessment activities in the country of export. This will help ensure that Kenyan consumers are protected from unsafe and sub-standard goods as well as ensuring that Kenyan manufacturers are not subjected to unfair competition from such goods.

For all products within its scope Kenya PVoC becomes mandatory as follows

• All shipments with IDFs issued before 29th September 05 and loaded before 1st of November 05 do not require any Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
• All shipments with IDFs issued before 29th September 05 and loaded after 1st of November 05 do require CoCs.
• All shipments with IDFs issued after 29th September 05 must obtain CoCs regardless of the date of loading

These products are to be known as Regulated Products and failure by exporters to comply with the Kenya PVoC in relation to these products may result in the rejection of goods or additional testing and delays at Kenyan ports. Kenya PVoC is independent of and additional to any existing import processes such as Destination Inspection (DI).

The presentation of a Kenya PVoC Certificate of Conformity (CoC) for every shipment entering Kenyan ports will be the means through which the Kenya PVoC will be enforced. The CoC will be a mandatory clearance documents for Regulated Products in addition to any other existing import documentation requirements.