KEBS Seizes Substandard Pipes Worth Ksh 10 Million

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has seized plastic pipes and construction materials worth 10 million shillings from five companies found to be dealing in substandard products or bearing illegal Standardization Marks, in heightened countrywide market surveillance activities.

The five which include Kikuyu Pipes and Fitting Centre (KPFC), Yuanyang Plastic Company Ltd. (YY), Doer Industrial Company Ltd. (DOER), Vintz Industries (VEER) and Kansun Pipe Ltd.

(KANSUN) have been instructed to discontinue manufacturing or offering for sale the affected plastic pipes and also take the necessary corrective actions to bring their production processes under control.

The seized products will be destroyed at the expense of the owners, in addition to any other legal action, as provided under the law.

KEBS has also suspended the Standardization Mark permits of the affected products effective immediately until such a time when corrective actions have been undertaken and confirmed.

“It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure continued product compliance to set standards. Processing, manufacturing, stocking, and/or offering for sale of substandard goods or products that do not comply with set Standards is prohibited by the Laws of Kenya under the Standards Act Chapter 496,” said Lt Col (Rtd.) Bernard Njiraini, Managing Director, KEBS.

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KEBS monitors the effectiveness of quality control measures for products sold in the country through factory inspections, product certifications, market surveillance activities at the factory, and market to ensure that the public is protected from harmful products.

As part of the product certification scheme, KEBS certifies and issues a Standardization Mark (SM) permit or Diamond Mark of Quality once the product complies with the relevant Kenya Standard. Imports are also issued with a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number.

“To Wajibika, verify whether the S Mark permit on your product is valid by sending the code underneath the S Mark to 20023 (SM#Code) to get product validity status details.  If the details are different, report to KEBS Toll-Free 1545 during official working hours of 8.00 AM to 1.00 PM and 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM, Monday to Friday,” said KEBS

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