KEBS refutes reports of not testing locally sold goods

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has dismissed reports that goods sold in the local market may be of below-par quality since they are not tested, adding that its Diamond Mark of Quality is a symbol that all goods and products are fit for consumption.

In a statement to newsrooms on Saturday, the State agency sought to clarify reports in one local daily cautioning consumers of the possibility of purchasing substandard products, saying that in the financial year 2022/2023, it tested over 60,000 consumer products.

“First and foremost, the mission of KEBS, as defined by its clear mandate, is to provide standardization, metrology, and conformity assessment solutions for sustainable development. The role of KEBS in ensuring that goods and services conform to standards is pivotal in enhancing the quality of life, and consumer protection, and in fostering trade, industry, and innovation,” stated KEBS.

“The article speculates and advances a misleading notion that KEBS does not carry out testing in its quality assurance processes. Contrary to this, in the financial year 2022/2023 KEBS tested over 60,000 consumer products.”

The fears came after KEBS Acting Managing Director Esther Ngari was quoted seemingly admitting before the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday that the regulatory body does not conduct tests to ascertain the quality of goods sold locally.

"Kindly note that it is the responsibility of the person manufacturing a product covered by a Kenya Standard to comply with the requirement of the standards," Ngari is quoted as saying by the Nation in response to the defective LPG cylinders query.

In its defence however, the regulatory company allayed doubts of its mandate of ascertaining the quality of products in the markets reiterating that the Diamond Mark of Quality, it brands on goods “is not a token emblem but it signifies a manufacturer's capability to consistently produce compliant products, over and above the minimum requirements set in the product standards.”

It added: “The statement that products with Diamond Mark of Quality are not subjected to inspection and not tested upon arrival at the port of entry was taken out of context because it was clearly explained, that a Diamond Mark is a superior mark issued only after compliance to a rigorous process.”

KEBS highlighted its role as a statutory body in regulating manufacturers saying it serves to establish whether any manufacturer is a registered legal entity, inspecting the manufacturing premises to assess the capability and also samples and tests the product to know if it meets the required standards.

“KEBS inspects the manufacturing premises to assess the capability of the manufacturing process to meet the requirements of the Standard in line with Section 10(3) which entails controls to ensure that the raw materials used are of the right quality, production is managed within specified conditions, and final products are properly packaged and labelled as per the required standards,” stated the company.

“The manufacturer is required to test or make arrangements for testing their products on a regular basis. Records of these quality measures must be maintained and produced to KEBS for verification during surveillance inspections.”

The Agency also noted that a manufacturer must sign a certification contract with KEBS which is a systematic guide to quality management activities that the manufacturer shall implement the quality assurance activities as agreed throughout the validity period.

Regarding the saga where Ngari was probed by Parliament over the government expenditure of about 100,000 faulty Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders at a cost of Ksh.125.1 million, KEBS in its rejoinder dismissed the claims saying it was not involved in the procurement process.

It maintained that manufacturers are liable for the quality of production of their goods provided KEBS has already created trust after the producer commits to adhering to protocols.

“For the avoidance of doubt, KEBS was not involved in the tendering process that led to the procurement of substandard products,” the State agency said.

“Manufacturing and monitoring are two distinct realms. While KEBS defines and oversees adherence to standards, manufacturers are responsible for producing goods that meet these benchmarks. This dynamic creates a system anchored in trust - a trust fortified by stringent protocols and consequential penalties for deviations.”