Every product has a story about itself. The label says the extension cable is rated for 13 amps. The carton says the paint is lead free. The supplier’s WhatsApp message says “best quality, my friend.” Kenya, very sensibly, would like someone to check.

That someone is the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and much of the checking happens before your goods leave the exporting country. The programme is called Pre-Export Verification of Conformity, or PVoC, and the document it produces is the Certificate of Conformity, or CoC. If your goods need a CoC and arrive without one, you will pay more and wait longer at Mombasa. Here is how to avoid that.

What PVoC is

Under PVoC, inspection companies appointed by KEBS inspect goods in the exporting country, take samples for testing where needed, and seal full containers. Goods that pass receive a CoC. KRA treats the CoC as one of the documents needed for clearance.

For the 2026 to 2029 cycle, KEBS has contracted nine companies for general goods: ASTC, Bureau Veritas, CCIC, China Hansom (CHIC), Cotecna, Intertek, Quality Inspection Services Japan (QISJ), SGS and TÜV Rheinland. Used vehicles, vehicle spare parts and mobile equipment are handled by QISJ.

The previous contracts expired on 8 February 2026, and the new contractors started on 19 February 2026. If an old guide or a supplier gives you a different list of agents, it is out of date, however confidently it is written.

Who does what

PVoC has five players. Each one has a single job, and trouble starts when someone assumes another player is doing theirs.

• The importer makes sure the supplier knows which Kenyan standard applies and that a CoC will be required.
• The exporter applies to the inspection company with a Request for Certification and makes the goods available for inspection.
• The inspection company inspects, samples, tests and issues the CoC or a Non Conformity Report.
• KEBS sets the standards and runs destination inspection for goods that arrive without a CoC.
• KRA checks for the CoC during clearance.

The three routes to a CoC

Think of the routes as three kinds of membership: pay as you go, a season ticket, and a long term pass for the factory itself.

Route A, consignment inspection and testing. Open to anyone. Each shipment is physically inspected and tested. This is the route most occasional exporters use.

Route B, product registration. For frequent exporters of the same products. Products are registered with the inspection company using test reports from earlier shipments. Registration lasts a year, and testing is reduced to risk based checks and surveillance.

Route C, product licensing. For manufacturers who can show a working quality management system. The factory is audited and its products licensed, typically for three years.

What it costs

Under the current PVoC Manual (Version 15), the inspection fee is a percentage of the FOB value of the goods:

• Route A: 0.60% of FOB
• Route B: 0.55% of FOB
• Route C: 0.50% of FOB

Each route has a minimum of USD 300 and a maximum of USD 3,500 per consignment. Laboratory testing, registration, licensing and repeat inspections are charged on top by the inspection company.

How long it takes

Inspection should take place within four working days of a complete request for sea cargo, and one working day for air cargo. The CoC is issued within two working days (sea) or one (air) after the final documents are in. Testing can add time, so book early, and book very early before Chinese New Year, when factories close and half of Guangdong seems to go home at once.

What happens without a CoC

Goods that need a CoC but arrive without one are sent for destination inspection by KEBS at the port. KEBS charges a much higher fee for this, and the goods may be held or sampled until results come back. Meanwhile the storage meter runs. Goods from countries where KEBS has no inspection company are also inspected on arrival, at 0.6% of the approved customs value (minimum USD 300, maximum USD 3,500).

Some products are exempt from PVoC under Legal Notice 78 of 2020, for example goods carrying the KEBS Diamond Mark and certain goods made in the East African Community. Exempt goods still need the right documents to prove the exemption. Being exempt is not the same as being invisible.

Our advice

Tell your supplier about PVoC before you place the order, not when the goods are already packed and taped. Ask for the CoC number before you pay the balance, and check that the container and seal numbers on the CoC match the bill of lading.

We handle PVoC paperwork for clients importing from China, Dubai and Turkey. If you are unsure whether your goods need a CoC, send us the product list. Call +254 722 375 423 or +254 741 444 444, WhatsApp @sidoman254 or @Sidoman_, or email info@sidoman.com. See also our clearing and forwarding service.

“Best quality, my friend” is a fine thing to hear. A Certificate of Conformity is a better thing to hold.

Fees and contractors last checked against the KEBS PVoC Manual Version 15, October 2026.