KEBS Certification Body (KEBS CB)
Yes. The KEBS CB is accredited to ISO/IEC 17021-1 for management system certification by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA) and the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS), and to ISO/IEC 17024 for personnel certification by KENAS. Both RvA and KENAS are full members of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
Preliminary investigation: KEBS CB determines whether the client is sufficiently prepared. The client applies through http://ims.kebs.org. If the client is not ready, KEBS CB provides feedback on gaps identified.; Application: A quotation is prepared from the application information. If accepted, the client pays the application fee and receives a certification contract.; Stage one audit: The client’s documented management system is reviewed and an onsite audit assesses readiness for stage two. The interval before stage two must not exceed six months.; Stage two audit: An onsite audit evaluates implementation and effectiveness of the management system, compliance, controls, monitoring, internal audits and management review. Identified nonconformities require corrective action.; Certification process: Following verification of corrective actions, findings are peer-reviewed and recommendations are submitted to the certification committee. Once certified, the certificate is valid for three years.; Surveillance: Surveillance audits are conducted at least once each calendar year except in recertification years.; Recertification: A recertification audit is conducted at least two months before the certification contract expires.
The KEBS Certification Body certifies management systems and other schemes, including:ISO 9001 Quality Management System; ISO 14001 Environmental Management System; HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point; ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems; OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System; ISO 27001 Information Security Management System; ISO 20000-1 IT Service Management; KS 2573 Hygiene Certification for Food Establishments and Restaurants; FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification; ISO 39001 Road Transport Safety Management System; ISO 50001 Energy Management System; ISO 13485 Medical Devices Certification; ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System; ISO 30401 Knowledge Management System; ISO 14024 Ecolabelling; ISO 21001 Management System for Educational Organizations; ISO 7101 Management System for Quality in Healthcare Organizations; Integrated Management System; African Conformity Assessment Programme Scheme D – Ecolabelling and Sustainability.
Market Surveillance
Businesses can ensure compliance by following KEBS standards, participating in training programmes and seeking certification where applicable.
Report a non-compliant product using the online complaint form at https://kims.kebs.go.ke/complaint-new or through the KEBS hotline 1545.
Certification is indicated by a Standardization Mark on the product or packaging. Consumers can verify certification through the KEBS Official app, by sending the SM number to 20023, or through https://www.kebs.org/products-with-smarks/.
KEBS works with government agencies such as the Kenya Revenue Authority and Public Health through joint inspections, information sharing and coordinated enforcement actions.
KEBS implements pre-market approval systems through the Quality Assurance and Inspection Directorate, where manufacturers’ or importers’ products are tested and certified before they are allowed in the market.
Products are inspected year-round as part of KEBS annual surveillance, with target products tested based on complaints, national interest and risk assessments.
KEBS can issue warnings, recall products, impose fines, revoke permits or prosecute offenders, depending on the level of non-compliance.
KEBS conducts an investigation that may include testing, inspections and review of documentation. If the product is non-compliant, actions may include recalls, fines or legal proceedings.
Market Surveillance is a Directorate within KEBS that ensures products in the Kenyan market meet approved standards and do not pose risks to health, safety or the environment.
Ensure products in the market comply with Kenyan Standards and approved specifications.; Protect consumers by ensuring access to safe and quality products.; Promote fair trade by eliminating substandard goods.; Safeguard the environment from harmful products.; Support Standards Development, Testing, Quality Assurance and Inspection by providing market feedback.
KEBS coordinates with manufacturers, importers and retailers to recall non-compliant products.
Market Surveillance covers food, chemicals, electronics, textiles, civil, mechanical and agricultural products. KEBS does not handle products with medical claims or pesticides.
Metrology
Send inquiries to info.metrology@kebs.org.
All payments are made through the eCitizen platform. After receiving a quotation, present it to the KEBS cash office for a proforma invoice containing the payment reference number. Pay the exact amount for the payment to be finalized and a receipt issued. Paying more or less may require reversal and repetition of the payment and may cause additional charges.
Hand-deliver the items to KEBS.; Send the items through a courier and communicate handling requirements accurately to avoid transit damage.; Non-local customers should contact KEBS for assistance with customs clearance arrangements. The customer is responsible for any customs charges.
Send a request for a calibration quotation to info.metrology@kebs.org. Include the official name and address of the company or individual as it should appear on the certificate, equipment name, make and model, measurement range, and whether calibration should be done onsite or at KEBS.; A customer liaison officer will contact the laboratory and provide a quotation or seek clarification.; Present the quotation to the KEBS cash office for a proforma invoice containing payment details for eCitizen.; Make the payment and deliver the equipment to KEBS. For onsite calibration, KEBS officers will contact you to plan the visit.
Inaccurate measurements that compromise quality and increase defects.; Safety risks and potentially unsafe working conditions.; Increased costs from inefficiencies and possible equipment damage.; Legal and compliance issues, including possible fines, legal action and loss of certification.; Reputational damage and reduced customer confidence.
Equipment used in industries, research, educational institutions, aviation and the health sector can be calibrated. Examples include weighing scales, balances, incubators, thermometers, pressure gauges, pH meters, spectrophotometers, x-ray machines, storage tanks, material testing machines, torque wrenches, load cells, vernier calipers, micrometers, tachometers, stopwatches, oscilloscopes, generators, density meters, viscometers, hydrometers and medical equipment.
Calibration is the act of checking and/or adjusting the accuracy of a measuring instrument by comparing it with a standard instrument of higher accuracy that has traceability to the International System of Units.
Metrology is the science of measurement and its application. KEBS is the custodian of the National Reference Standards of Measurement in Kenya, which are traceable to the International System of Units (SI), and is the designated National Metrology Institute in Kenya.
Meteorology is the science dealing with the atmosphere and its phenomena, including weather and climate. Metrology is the science of measurements and their applications.
The SI is the modern form of the metric system based on seven base units: metre (m), second (s), kilogram (kg), ampere (A), kelvin (K), mole (mol) and candela (cd). Other units, such as those for speed and volume, are derived from these seven base units.
Density and viscosity laboratory.; Force, torque and hardness laboratory.; Length and industrial measurement laboratory.; Mass and balance calibration laboratory.; Pressure and vacuum laboratory.; Temperature laboratory.; Volume and flow laboratory.; Photometry laboratory.; Acoustics and vibration laboratory.; Ionizing radiation (dosimetry) laboratory.; DC and low frequency laboratory.; Time and frequency laboratory.; Energy and transformer laboratory.; Instrumentation workshop.; Mechanical workshop.; Liaison office.
Realization and maintenance of units of measurement.; Calibration.; Training on measurements.; Laboratory comparison.; Research and development.
Service industries.; Construction industries.; Hospitals.; Research institutions, universities and technical and vocational training institutes.; Manufacturers and producers.; Oil industries.; Accredited laboratories.; Aviation industries.; Steel production industries.; Sports organizations.; Regulators.; Mining industries.; Shipping industries.; Transport industries.; Farmers.; SMEs.; Automobile industries.; Military.; Railway.
Accuracy: Ensures measuring instruments provide accurate results crucial for product and service quality and safety.; Preventative maintenance: Identifies and corrects issues before device failure or inaccurate measurements.; Traceability: Establishes a traceable link to national and international standards.; Compliance: Helps meet regulatory and legislative requirements.
National Quality Institute (NQI)
Visit the KEBS website or email nqi@kebs.org.
NQI is a department within KEBS responsible for entrenching a culture of quality within Kenya through practical application of standards, training and process improvement.
Training on ISO management systems standards and quality improvement.; Training SMEs on practical application of standards in industry.; Membership registration for recognition of quality practitioners.; Undertaking surveys on quality-related issues.; Offering quality awards to recognize organizations and SMEs that embrace quality.; Collaborating with other institutions to promote a culture of quality.; Offering certified quality professional courses in collaboration with KASNEB.
Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC)
No. Personal effects for returning residents are exempted subject to approval by KRA.
These are not new regulations. The PVoC programme has been in operation since July 2005, and all products apart from those exempted in the schedule of Legal Notice 78 are covered under the programme.
Raw materials imported by registered manufacturers whose end products are certified to use the local Standardization Mark of Quality in Kenya are exempted from PVoC requirements. Manufacturers must apply for exemption of raw materials, machinery and parts using the application form available at www.kebs.org.
Test reports issued by a manufacturer’s laboratory can be accepted for the purpose of issuing a COC provided the laboratory is accredited to ISO 17025. Such goods still require a Certificate of Conformity.
Certificates of Conformity are consignment-based and specific to a particular consignment.
Ensure product quality, health and safety, and environmental protection for consumers.; Facilitate trade by ensuring compliant goods receive expedited clearance at the port of entry.; Safeguard the country from unfair trade practices and dumping of substandard goods by ensuring imported products comply with the same requirements as locally manufactured goods.; Safeguard national security.; Prevent deceptive trade practices.
These consignments are subject to destination inspection by KEBS.
PVoC stands for Pre-export Verification of Conformity to standards. It is a conformity assessment programme applied to products in the respective exporting countries to ensure compliance with applicable standards and regulations.
KEBS inspects medical devices to ensure compliance with applicable standards.
Inspection of goods at the country of origin or supply is done by agents contracted by KEBS. Information on the contracted agents and their countries of responsibility is available in the PVoC manual on the KEBS website at www.kebs.org.
Quality Assurance
KEBS accepts test reports from ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories. The reports are evaluated before acceptance in the certification process.
Visit https://www.kebs.org/.; Install the KEBS app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.; Send an SMS in the format SM#PERMIT NUMBER to 20023.; Call the KEBS toll-free number 1545.
Log in to https://kims.kebs.go.ke/.
The corresponding S-Mark rides on the Diamond Mark and has the same four-year validity period without an additional fee.
Accredited laboratories have valid ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from an accrediting body such as KENAS. A designated laboratory is one designated by KEBS after meeting the requirements of the EAC SQMT Act of 2006.
The fees schedule shown in the FAQ is: LME inspection fee KES 40,000 per site and permit fee KES 15,000 per product, brand and site; MME inspection fee KES 20,000, consolidated for up to three products with KES 10,000 for each additional product; SME inspection fee KES 10,000, consolidated for up to three products with KES 10,000 for each additional product; and Food Fortification Logo fee KES 20,000 per product, brand and site. Payments are exclusive of VAT.
Standardization Mark.; Diamond Mark.; Fortification Mark.
LME – Large Manufacturing Enterprise: annual turnover over KES 500,000.; MME – Medium Manufacturing Enterprise: annual turnover over KES 200,000 and up to KES 500,000.; SME – Small Manufacturing Enterprise: annual turnover up to KES 200,000.
Market access within East African Community member states due to mutual recognition of marks issued by National Standards Bodies in the region.; Consumer confidence.; Product quality underpinned by the national quality system.
It is a product certification process that results in issuance of a Standardization Mark permit. The permit is valid for two years.
Apply using forms STA/1 and STA/3.; Pay the applicable fees.; Comply with the requirements of relevant standards.; Undergo assessment and obtain approval and award of the Diamond Mark permit by the Permit Approval Committee.
Access the KIMS portal at https://kims.kebs.go.ke and sign up. Follow the application process guided by the platform.; Pay the applicable fees.; Undergo factory inspection to check compliance with relevant product standards or codes of practice.; Develop and execute a scheme of supervision and control.; The application is reviewed and, if approved, a Standardization Mark permit is issued.
The Diamond Mark is a voluntary product certification mark of excellence covering locally manufactured and imported products. It is issued by KEBS on behalf of the Government of Kenya, is valid for four years, and is also referred to as the D-Mark. It is issued to products that comply with applicable Kenya Standards.
Kenyan companies pay KES 55,000 per brand per year, equivalent to KES 220,000 per product or brand plus VAT for four years. Foreign companies pay USD 4,000 per product per brand per year, equivalent to USD 16,000 for four years. The applicant also meets assessors’ subsistence allowance, return economy airfare where applicable, and travel and local running arrangements in the country of manufacture.
It is a mandatory product certification scheme for wheat flour and maize flour fortified with zinc, iron or Vitamin A, and edible oil fortified with Vitamin A. It is administered by KEBS on behalf of the Ministry of Health. An applicant must first have an S-Mark or D-Mark. The fee is KES 20,000 plus VAT per product, brand and site.
The Standardization Mark is a product certification mark issued by KEBS under the Standards Act for products made in Kenya that demonstrate conformity to relevant standards or approved specifications. It is valid for two years and is renewable. It is also referred to as the S-Mark or SM.
The list of KENAS-accredited testing laboratories is available in the Directory of Accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies at https://kenas.go.ke/testing-and-calibration/.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards issues the Standardization Mark on behalf of the Government of Kenya.
Manufacturers operating in the Republic of Kenya.
Standards
Standards are available at the Standards Information Resource Centre (SIRC) at KEBS Headquarters and at all regional offices at a fee. SIRC is open to all members of the public. Standards may also be purchased online through the KEBS Webstore: https://webstore.kebs.org.
Requests for the development or revision of a standard can be made through https://www.kims.kebs.go.ke/request-standard.
A standard is a document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that provides for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context. It is a technical document developed through consensus detailing the requirements necessary to ensure that a material, product, service, or procedure is fit for its intended purpose. Standards serve as a guide for production of goods and provision of services, and are a basis for trade transactions.
Enhancement of quality and reliability.; Safety and environmental protection measures.; Minimization of wastage.; Reduction of costs.; Reduction of unnecessary varieties.; Promotion of interchangeability.; Increased productivity in the industry.; Transparency in production information.; Suitability of products for vulnerable populations.; Consumer protection.; Choice and fair competition.
Standard: A document established by consensus and approved by a recognized body that provides rules, guidelines or characteristics for common and repeated use, aimed at achieving the optimum degree of order in a given context. Standards should be based on consolidated results of science, technology and experience, and aimed at promoting optimum community benefits. Regulation: A document providing binding legislative rules that is adopted by an authority. Technical regulation: A document that provides technical requirements, either directly or by referring to or incorporating the content of a standard, technical specification or code of practice. A technical regulation may be supplemented by technical guidance outlining means of compliance.
Standards development is initiated by stakeholders: consumers, academia and research institutions, manufacturers and industry, professional bodies, Government agencies, renowned experts, relevant associations and any interested party.
Standards affect everybody including, but not limited to, manufacturers, importers, exporters, consumers, regulators and all interested publics.
Standards Information Centre (SIC)
Purchase through the KEBS Webstore at https://webstore.kebs.org.; Visit a KEBS office in person.; Send a request by email after payment and the electronic copy will be mailed to you.
The standards are protected by copyright and are available on a single-user licence. Copying, reproduction, redistribution and internet, network or intranet sharing are prohibited.
Kenya Standards are available in both printed format and electronic PDF format.
Distribution and circulation of Kenya Standards.; Standards from various national, regional and international standards bodies.; Technical books and current newspapers.; A complete set of the Laws of Kenya.; Online catalogue services.; Sale of Kenya Standards.
SIC was established on the basis of the International Organization for Standardization Information Network (ISONET) and is designed to promote dissemination and the flow of information on standards and related documents.
Kenya Standards are available from the Standards Information Centre at KEBS Headquarters and KEBS regional offices in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri and Garissa.
A list of Kenya Standards developed so far is available in the Kenya Standards online catalogue at http://onlinecatalogue.kebs.org. You can search by product, KS number, TC name or free text.
Standards Levy
Log in to iTax.; Go to Payments, then Payment Registration.; Select Tax head: Agency Revenue, and Sub-head: Standards Levy.; Generate a Payment Registration Number (PRN).; Pay as instructed.
Business or organization registration number (BRS).; Director or owner National ID number.; KRA PIN.
A manufacturer who defaults is liable to pay the penalty specified under Section 10B(3) of the Act.
Go to the KEBS website, select Online Services, then KIMS, or visit kims.org.; Log in to KEBS KIMS and select Sign Up.; Enter the BRS registration number and Director’s ID.; Complete the required details.; Fill out Form SL/1.; Click Apply.; Receive the Entry Number and Registration Number by SMS and email.
The Standards Levy is a monthly contribution payable by all manufacturers to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) under the Standards (Standards Levy) Order, 2025, gazetted via Legal Notice No. 136 of 08 August 2025. It is charged at 0.2% of the turnover of goods manufactured or services offered for sale, excluding VAT, Excise Duty and discounts.
Submit a formal request on official letterhead to the KEBS Managing Director.; Email info@kebs.org and copy standardslevy@kebs.org.; State the closure date and reason.
The levy for a given month must be paid on or before the 20th day of the following month, in accordance with Section 10C(1) of the Act.
Payments and submission of monthly returns should begin from the month the business commences sales.
Under the definition of Manufacture in Cap 496, a manufacturer includes a person or entity producing, processing, treating, installing, testing, operating or using.
Testing
Yes. KEBS test reports are internationally recognized because the laboratories are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited. The SANAS accreditation number is T0705 for Microbiology and Chemistry laboratories and T0718 for Materials laboratories.
Testing typically takes up to 13 working days, as outlined in the KEBS Customer Service Charter. The exact duration may vary depending on the type and complexity of the tests required.
The cost depends on the specific parameters being analysed. Pricing is per parameter and typically ranges between KES 500 and KES 3,000, depending on test complexity. Share product details and the required tests to obtain an accurate quotation.
Examine products and materials in areas such as chemistry, engineering, plastics and microbiology to ensure they meet safety and quality standards.; Serve manufacturers, importers, exporters, NGOs, government ministries, departments and agencies, research institutions, traders and KEBS officers.
Food and beverages.; Agricultural products.; Chemicals and industrial products.; Building materials.; Plastics and polymers.; Electrical and electronic items.; Textiles and leather.; Medical devices.; Environmental samples.; Fuel and energy products.This list is not exhaustive. The department can test a wide range of products based on client needs and regulatory requirements.
Sample testing and analysis.; Proficiency testing schemes.; Production and provision of certified reference materials.; Environmental monitoring of air quality, waste, emissions and water quality.; Calibration of gas detectors and chromatographic equipment.; Capacity building for staff, industry players and other stakeholders in testing techniques and laboratory practices.
KEBS laboratories are located in Nairobi along Popo Road, South C; the Coast Region along Nkurumah Road, Mombasa; Kisumu off Kibos Road; and Eldoret off Oloo Street. The available laboratories include:Food and agriculture laboratory.; Organic chemistry and petroleum laboratory.; Inorganic chemistry laboratory.; Electrical engineering laboratory.; Civil engineering laboratory.; Mechanical engineering laboratory.; Microbiology laboratory.; Molecular and biotechnology laboratory.; Textile engineering laboratory.; Polymer laboratory.; Gas laboratory.
Verify that products are safe for use or consumption.; Ensure compliance with relevant standards, laws and good manufacturing practices.; Confirm that products meet required specifications and quality standards.; Ensure products meet environmental standards and contribute to sustainability.; Provide accurate valuation of goods for taxation and trade purposes.; Help develop specifications and standards for new or innovative products.; Establish precise measurements for assigning value to products and materials.; Identify areas for enhancing manufacturing processes and efficiency.