Ensure accuracy in country of origin declaration, importers told

Importers should ensure accuracy in the country of origin (CoO) declaration for smooth inspection and clearance of goods for shipment to Kenya, Kebs contracted firm SGS now says.

This is under the pre-export verification of conformity (PVoC) programme, an assessment applied to products at the respective exporting countries, to ensure their compliance with the applicable Kenyan technical regulations and mandatory standards or approved specifications.

Country of origin declaration confirms where a product was manufactured or produced, focusing on geographic origin and is used primarily for customs clearance and tariff determination including correct duty rates application. It also enables access to preferential trade agreements.

According to SGS, a Swiss multinational contracted by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) to provide pre-export verification services abroad, recent assessments have highlighted inconsistencies across submitted documentation, which hinder smooth cargo clearance.

Stakeholders should also ensure that the information on invoices, product labels and shipping documents align with the details recorded in the Certificate of Conformity (CoC), the firm said in a statement. 

“Importers are encouraged to review documentation carefully to avoid delays or non-compliance during the PVoC process,”  SGS said in a statement.

The call follows a series of stakeholder workshops in Nairobi and Mombasa which brought together importers, clearing agents and representatives from the Kebs and the Kenya Revenue Authority, to strengthen collaboration and support consistent, transparent import compliance.

The workshops focused on evolving documentation requirements, product conformity expectations and the shared goal of safeguarding the Kenyan market through rigorous verification processes.

Kebs reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with service providers and the trading community to maintain transparency and program integrity.

Led by managing director Esther Ngari, the standards body said the country of origin requirements are not intended to hinder trade, noting that in cases where a separate CoO declaration is unavailable, a valid Certificate of Conformity may serve as an acceptable substitute. 

Kebs in 2022 cleared six firms to undertake pre-export verification services for general goods, majority of which were expiring this year. SGS’s Kenya PVoC contract remains valid until February 2026.

They included Bureau Veritas Kenya, China Certification & Inspection Group Company (CCIC), China Hansom Inspection & Certificate, Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), TUV Austria Turk and the World Standardization Certification & Testing Group (Shenzhen).

The programme is to ensure quality of products, health and safety, and environmental protection for consumers and facilitate trade by ensuring that compliant goods are given expedited clearance at the port of entry.

It also safeguards the country from unfair trade practices and dumping of substandard goods by ensuring that imported products comply with the same requirements to which locally manufactured goods are subjected, safeguard the country’s national security and prevent deceptive trade practices.