This archive report was first published on 17 May 2020.
On May 17, 2020, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) took a significant step in ensuring the safety of Kenyan consumers by ordering eight companies to remove their substandard hand sanitisers from the market.
The affected companies include Bidco Africa, which manufactures Gentle Care hand sanitisers, and seven other manufacturers: Kings Palace Ruiru, Virtuelle Products Ltd, Orange Pharma, Kenbrands International Company, Mafleva International Ltd, Shishi Naturals, and Havana East Africa Trading.
The hand sanitisers in question failed to meet the requirements of KS EAS 789, the Kenya Standard specification for Instant Hand Sanitizers.
Kebs has vowed to continue cracking down on companies that do not meet standard requirements while manufacturing products for consumer use.
“Kebs shall continue to undertake market surveillance and factory inspections. Substandard products found will be seized for destruction at the expense of the owner in addition to any other legal action as provided under the law,” Kebs stated.
