Kenya

Agreement signed · Strong coverage · Compiled 2026-07-05

25 screening rules

Labeling: 10 rules — 8 blocking, 0 conditional, 2 advisory
Additives: 3 rules — 3 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
Contaminants & residue limits: 6 rules — 6 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
Import & registration: 6 rules — 3 blocking, 3 conditional, 0 advisory

Market profile

Main food law: Food Drugs & Chemical Substances Act Cap 254
Labeling regulation: Cap 254 General Regs (2022 rev.)
Import requirements: KEBS PVoC Manual v15 (2026)
National standards body: KEBS (KS; EAS 38) — paywalled
Latest USDA FAIRS report: 2025

Certificates required

KEBS PVoC Certificate of Conformity (Kenya) — Mandatory (Applies to: All imports incl. processed food (limited exemptions))
Health certificate (food export, fit for human consumption) — Mandatory (Applies to: Imported food)
Veterinary health certificate (products of animal origin) — Mandatory (Applies to: Animal products)
Phytosanitary certificate (IPPC / ePhyto) — Mandatory (Applies to: Plant products (KEPHIS import permit))
Certificate of origin – non-preferential — Mandatory (Applies to: All imports)
UAE CEPA certificate of origin — Mandatory (Applies to: UAE-origin goods claiming UAE-Kenya CEPA preference (once in force))
Certificate of analysis (CoA) — Commonly requested (Applies to: PVoC testing)

Import and export

Documents to import

Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
Bill of lading / air waybill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
Certificate of origin — Issued by: Exporting-country chamber/authority — Mandatory
Import Declaration Form (IDF) — Issued by: KRA via KenTrade — Mandatory
PVoC Certificate of Conformity (CoC) — Issued by: KEBS-appointed PVoC agents (2026-29 cycle) — Mandatory
Test reports from recognised lab — Issued by: Accredited lab — Mandatory
Import Standardisation Mark (ISM) stickers — Issued by: KEBS — Mandatory
KEPHIS Plant Import Permit — Issued by: KEPHIS — Conditional
Phytosanitary certificate — Issued by: Exporting NPPO — Mandatory
Non-GE certificate — Issued by: Exporting authority / lab — Conditional
Certificate of origin (consularised) — Issued by: Chamber + Kenyan consulate — Mandatory
Insurance certificate — Issued by: Local insurer — Mandatory
Fumigation / radiation certificate — Issued by: Exporting authority — Conditional
Customs entry — Issued by: KRA — Mandatory

Documents to export

No verified documents yet.

Government fees

PVoC certification fee (Route A) (Import) — 0.6% FOB (min 300, max 3,500)
Destination inspection fee (goods without CoC) (Import) — 0.6% customs value (min 300, max 3,500)
Import Declaration Fee (IDF) (Import) — 2.5% customs value (min KES 5,000)
Railway Development Levy (RDL) (Import) — 2% customs value
ISM stickers (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
KEPHIS plant import permit fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
KEPHIS phytosanitary certificate fee (Export) — Not confirmed — check with the authority

Customs single window: KenTrade / iCMS

Customs duties are not included.

A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.

Official sources

Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act, Cap 254 (2012) Open the source
Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances (General) Regulations (Cap 254 subsidiary) (2022) Open the source
KEBS PVoC Program Operations Manual, Version 15 (2026) Open the source
KEBS Import Standardization Mark (ISM) Guidelines (2023) Open the source
KEBS Product Registration Guidelines (2021) Open the source
KS EAS 38 — Labelling of prepackaged foods (East African Standard) (2014) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Kenya (KE2025-0012) (2025) Open the source

Reference documents

KEBS PVoC Program Operations Manual v15 (2026) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Kenya (KE2025-0012) (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual — Kenya (KE2024-0005) (2024) Open the source
EAC Catalogue of East African Standards (2023) Open the source
KEBS Import Standardization Mark (ISM) Guidelines (2023) Open the source
Cap 254 General Regulations (2022 rev.) (2022) Open the source
KEBS Product Registration Guidelines (2021) Open the source
Cap 254 General Regulations (2015 rev.; alt copy) (2015) Open the source
KS EAS 38:2014 — Labelling of pre-packaged foods (2014) Open the source
Food Drugs and Chemical Substances Act Cap 254 (2012) Open the source
KS (Kenya Standards) product standards

Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.

Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.