INTRODUCTION

The Kenyan Bureau of Standards (KEBS), a statutory organization of the government of Kenya, is responsible for the adoption and application of Standards for both imported and domestically manufactured products in the Kenyan market. With effect from 29^th September 2005, KEBS, through a Legal Notice No. 78 of 15^th July, 2005, implemented the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) to Standards Programme. This is a conformity assessment and verification procedure applied to specific Goods/ Products at the respective exporting countries, to ensure their compliance with the applicable Kenyan Technical Regulations and Mandatory Standards or approved equivalents. The primary objective of applying Pre- Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) program is to ensure quality of products, health and safety, and environmental protection for Kenyans and this is reflected in the product coverage scope.

All products subject to PVoC must be certified and issued with a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) prior to shipment by authorized PVoC Agents. The CoC is a Customs Clearance document in Kenya. Where products are found not to conform to the requirements of the relevant standards during certification process by authorized PVoC Agent, a Non Conformity Report (NCR) shall be issued to the exporter. Such goods are not allowed for importation into Kenya.

However, products subject to PVoC arriving at the Kenyan ports of entry without a CoC shall be subject to destination inspection at a penalty of 15% of the CIF value of goods as spelt out in the Legal Notice No. 78. The importers of such goods shall also be required to execute a bond equivalent to 15% CIF value of the goods and shall meet the testing and inspection charges levied by KEBS.

PRINCIPLE OF PVOC

The PVoC program is based on Article 5 of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT/WTO), which requires that technical requirements (i.e. Standards) applied to foreign products must also be applied to domestically manufactured products. Over 2500 domestic companies are already subjected to Kenya standards, through our Quality assurance Service and therefore PVoC shall offer equal and national treatment to imported products.

KEY ELEMENTS OF PVoC

The key elements undertaken in PVoC certification process by PVoC Agents are as follows:

1. Physical inspection of products against the relevant standards prior to shipment,
2. Product sampling and testing in ISO/ IEC 17025 accredited laboratories or other KEBS approved laboratories,
3. Quality Audit of production processes for licensing of products (Route C),
4. Documentary review of relevant quality documents/ records,
5. Issuance of Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or Non Conformity Report (NCR) as appropriateand transmission of the same to exporter/ importer..

AUTHORIZED PVoC AGENTS

With effect from 15^th November, 2008 the following four inspection companies (also referred to as PVoC Agents) have been contracted to carry out PVoC activities on behalf of KEBS:

1. Société Générale De Surveillance S.A. (SGS)
2. Intertek International Ltd. (INTERTEK)
3. Global Inspections South Africa Pty Limited (GISA)
4. China Certification and Inspection Group Company Limited (CCIC)

These companies have been contracted to offer PVoC services in the designated regions as shown in PVoC Agents' Zones of Responsibility