Government to Recall Fake Products from Market

The government has cautioned business community against selling substandard products to unsuspecting and vulnerable members of the public, warning that such products will be recalled from the market.
Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary(CS), Betty Maina, said the business community must adhere to the set standards, as the government will not allow them to exploit the public with products that are ineffective.
In a press statement sent to the media, the CS directed the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KBS), Anti-Counterfeit Authority, Department of Weights and Measures and the Kenya Consumer Protection Committee to step up surveillance and seize all substandard products.
“The Ministry of Trade will continue to monitor the happenings in the country to ensure that fair trade practices and consumer protection are adhered to,” said the CS.
She said consumers who have doubts with products to send a message to SM# Permit number to 20023 to confirm if the product they have been sold is genuine.
The CS acknowledged the efforts made by Kenyan Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises to ensure that the Country has adequate sanitisers and other protective gear against the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“This response has been very encouraging, as we have seen our Export Processing Zone Authority’s and Rivatex take up the challenge to produce personal protection equipment. Many more Kenyans are coming up with promising innovations,” she stated.
She advised traders who intend to venture into the production of sanitisers to seek guidance and technical assistance from the Kenya Bureau of Standards and the Kenya Industrial and Development Institute on product development, quality, certification and standards.
Maina stressed that the Standards Act bars people from manufacturing or selling any commodity, method or procedure unless it adheres to the relevant specification or code of practice.
She said to guard against misuse of the standards mark as enshrined under section 10(6), no person shall apply a standardisation mark to any commodity except under a permit issued by the Bureau or a person acting under its authority and unless that commodity complies with the relevant Kenya Standard or approved specification.
The CS said the Ministry has been receiving concerns from the business community on their ventures, of which it has continued to address in conjunction with other arms of the government, and called on those who still want their interests addressed to contact the Ministry’s Emergency Business Response Centre on hotline number +254-110922066 or use email address advisorycentre@trade.go.ke.
Regarding the hygienic precautionary measures put in place by the government to contain coronavirus pandemic, the CS urged Kenyans to observe hand washing, social distancing and wearing of masks when going outside their homes, noting that business cannot thrive in a sick nation.
Use of sanitizers and frequent washing of hands with soap in running water are some of the means advocated by the Government to members of the public to stop further spread of the Covid-19 Virus.
Yesterday the Health Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mutahi Kagwe, announced that 22 more people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus infection increasing the number of affected persons in the country to 81.
By Bernadette Khaduli