Sunday 28 July 2013

Kebs on the spot over increased fake products

Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) Secretary General Stephen Mutoro (R) with Vice Chair John Juma (L) during a a past press briefing. Cofek decried mounting revelations of increased presence of dangerous counterfeits and fast-moving consumer goods on supermarket shelves.Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) Secretary General Stephen Mutoro (R) with Vice Chair John Juma (L) during a a past press briefing. Cofek decried mounting revelations of increased presence of dangerous counterfeits and fast-moving consumer goods on supermarket shelves. 
By RAWLINGS OTINI
Posted  Sunday, July 28  2013 at  11:51
 
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has been accused of laxity in its role of protecting consumers from harmful and fake products.
The Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) in a statement to newsrooms said Kebs and the Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA) have not exercised their mandate in protecting Kenyans from fake products that are now awash supermarket shelves.
The lobby group said it is receiving complaints from consumers for instance in Kisumu, where Kebs officials work in cahoots to protect wrongdoers at the expense of the consumer interest.
Cofek decried mounting revelations of increased presence of dangerous counterfeits and fast-moving consumer goods on supermarket shelves.
"Kebs and Anti-Counterfeiting Agency (ACA) no longer proactively carry out meaningful mystery inspections. They only conduct investigations after a public outcry. Even then, the quality of such inspections is hardly satisfactory. Results are never shared publicly," said Cofek.
It blamed unscrupulous manufacturers of some major brands saying they are to blame for churning out fakes and counterfeits to benefit from the huge consumer fakes market owing to lower pricing.
Lack of sufficient funding for ACA has also left it with minimal capacity to carryout its duty.
Overlapping mandates of various government agencies has been partly blamed. Kebs, ACA, Pharmacy & Poisons Board (P&PB), Kenya Revenue Authority and private certification agencies must be urgently harmonized.
It accused Kenya Revenue Authority officers saying they must never, as they often do, clear any consignment at the entry points before thorough clearance by Kebs adding that the current Kebs management and structure needs an immediate overhaul.

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