Kenya Adopts New Standards to boost EAC Trade for Cosmetics Products

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has adopted eleven (11) new standards allowing Kenyan cosmetics products to access regional markets.

“The new standards will facilitate trade in cosmetic products produced within Partner States in the East African Community by use of harmonized standards.

They will also ensure the quality, fitness for use and safety of the cosmetics to the consumers by controlling specific crucial parameters such as raw material requirements, and limits for heavy metal and microbiological contaminants,” says Lt Col (Rtd.) Bernard Njiraini, Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards.

Some of the products covered in the standards include aftershave, baby oils, body oils, deodorants and antiperspirants, glycerine, hair spray, lip balm (lip salve), lip shine (lip gloss), lipstick and shea butter.

With a liberalized external trade system, an ever-growing economy, political stability and world-class infrastructure in place, Kenya is generally perceived as the Eastern and Central Africa’s hub for regional trade, investment, infrastructure development and general economic growth.

Data shows that the Beauty and Personal Care Industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Kenya having grown by 400 percent in four years from KSH 26 billion in 2015 to over KSH 100 billion in 2019.[1]

Improvement and change in the current lifestyles of individuals have been among the key factors to the major growth of the Kenya Beauty and cosmetics industry. Additionally, consumers have now become more conscious regarding the usage of cosmetics in their daily lives in an effort to step up their style quotient and overall personality.

“Cosmetic products will also be produced, prepared and handled in accordance with international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) set for the Cosmetics industry, thus further assuring consumers of the quality and safety of the product,” Njiraini adds.

Traders have been facing challenges while trying to export products which are certified to local standards. With these regional standards in place, this will now be a thing of the past.

It is expected that the standards will be used by stakeholders in the cosmetics industry including manufacturers, importers, traders, testing bodies, research bodies, institutions of higher learning and regulatory bodies.

Moreover, they will boost local businesses and the government agenda of increasing manufacturing of local products for economic growth.