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Pre-Export Verification of Conformity Service
Overview of the PVoC Program
Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVOC)– is a conformity assessment and certification of goods/mobile equipment program undertaken by an accredited third-party inspections company on behalf of KEBS at the respective exporting countries to ensure compliance with the applicable Standards, Technical Regulations or approved specifications.
Legal basis of the PVoC Program
PVOC program was started on 29th September 2005 by KEBS, through the publication of Legal Notice No. 78 of 15th July 2005 by then Minister for Trade and Industry. This Legal Notice was superseded by Legal Notice No. 127 of 19th June 2018. On 12th November 2019, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives revoked this Legal Notice and issued Legal Notice 183.
On 28th April 2020, Legal Notice 183 was revoked and replaced with Legal Notice 78 (2020). There have been further amendments to Legal Notice 78 (2020) to improve the program as listed below:
- Legal Notice 212 (18th December 2020)
- Legal Notice 53 (22nd April 2021)
The program is also compliant with the provisions of Article 5 of WTO TBT Agreement.
Objectives of the Program
To ensure quality of products, health and safety, and environmental protection for consumers.
To facilitate trade by ensuring that compliant goods are given expedited clearance at the port of entry.
To safeguard the country from unfair trade practices and dumping of substandard goods by ensuring that imported products comply with the same requirements to which locally manufactured goods are subjected.
To safeguard the country’s national security.
To prevent deceptive trade practices.
Operations of the Program
The program is operated by accredited third party inspections companies on behalf of KEBS.
The world is divided into nineteen (19) regions based on proximity and trade volumes. In addition, the program provides for multiple partners in majority of the regions to enhance efficiency.
The basis of certification is Kenya standards or approved specifications.
Responsibilities Under the PVoC Program
- Importers
- Exporters
- PVoC Contractors
- KEBS
- Partner Government Agencies
- KRA
To request for PVoC services by submitting request for certification (RFC) to PVoC Contractors.
The functions of KEBS as mandated by the Standards Act, Chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya are inter alia: To promote standardization in industry and commerce;
The functions of KEBS as mandated by the Standards Act, Chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya are inter alia: To promote standardization in industry and commerce;
The functions of KEBS as mandated by the Standards Act, Chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya are inter alia: To promote standardization in industry and commerce;
The functions of KEBS as mandated by the Standards Act, Chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya are inter alia: To promote standardization in industry and commerce;
Ensure their products or goods meet the requirements specified in relevant Kenya standards, approved specifications, and other applicable regulations before shipment by carrying out tests and facilitating physical inspection, where required, by PVoC Contractors.
Ensure that the consignments have been issued with a CoC, or CoR by PVoC Contractors for all products subject to the PVoC program before shipping.
Note:
Importer or exporter is required to confirm the details in the CoC/CoR draft given by the PVoC Contractor before issuance of the final CoC/CoR. KEBS will not allow amendments after issuance. Exporters/Importers must confirm details in the draft CoC/CoR within 48 hours of receipt of the draft from PVoC contractor, failure to which the same shall be issued as is.
The role of PVoC Contractors is to undertake conformity assessment activities in the assigned zones. These
activities include inspection, sampling, testing, sealing of full-load containers (where applicable) and issuance of COCs/ CORs / NCR.
The inspection shall be scheduled in liaison with the exporter. The physical inspections shall be undertaken within four (4) working days and one (1) working day of receipt of the duly completed Request for Certification Form from the exporter for sea bound shipments and one air freight shipments respectively unless a different date is requested in writing by the exporter.
Issuance of Certificates of Conformity for compliant consignments shall be within two (2) working days and one (1) working day of receipt of final documentation.
Six (6) inspection companies (PVoC Contractors) have been contracted by KEBS to undertake PVoC activities. These are:
The inspection shall be scheduled in liaison with the exporter. The physical inspections shall be undertaken within four (4) working days and one (1) working day of receipt of the duly completed Request for Certification Form from the exporter for sea bound shipments and one air freight shipments respectively unless a different date is requested in writing by the exporter.
Issuance of Certificates of Conformity for compliant consignments shall be within two (2) working days and one (1) working day of receipt of final documentation.
Six (6) inspection companies (PVoC Contractors) have been contracted by KEBS to undertake PVoC activities. These are:
General Goods
- China Certification & Inspection Group Company Ltd
- China Hansom Inspection & Certificate Co. Ltd
- Societe Generale de Surveillance S.A
- TUV Austria (Turk) Kenya Limited
- World Standardization Certification & Testing Group (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd
Motor Vehicles, Motor Vehicle Spare Parts, and Mobile Equipment
- Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ)
Ensure that only goods meeting the requirements of the relevant Kenya Standards or approved specification enter the country as provided for in the Standards Act Cap 496, Laws of Kenya, and the Standards (Verification of Conformity to Standards and other Applicable Regulations) Order, 2020.
All other government agencies with mandate over international trade operations shall continue to remain accountable for the discharge of their respective mandates in accordance with existing legal frameworks, but subject to adherence with the guidelines provided by the Government circular reference OP/CAB 9/83A dated 4th June 2019.
KRA’s mandate is Trade Facilitation, Border Security, Revenue Collection, Enforcement of prohibitions and restrictions. KRA will use the Certificate of Conformity as one of the reference documents for cargo clearance.
Importers
To request for PVoC services by submitting request for certification (RFC) to PVoC Contractors.
The functions of KEBS as mandated by the Standards Act, Chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya are inter alia: To promote standardization in industry and commerce;
The functions of KEBS as mandated by the Standards Act, Chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya are inter alia: To promote standardization in industry and commerce;
The functions of KEBS as mandated by the Standards Act, Chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya are inter alia: To promote standardization in industry and commerce;
The functions of KEBS as mandated by the Standards Act, Chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya are inter alia: To promote standardization in industry and commerce;
Exporters
Ensure their products or goods meet the requirements specified in relevant Kenya standards, approved specifications, and other applicable regulations before shipment by carrying out tests and facilitating physical inspection, where required, by PVoC Contractors.
Ensure that the consignments have been issued with a CoC, or CoR by PVoC Contractors for all products subject to the PVoC program before shipping.
Note:
Importer or exporter is required to confirm the details in the CoC/CoR draft given by the PVoC Contractor before issuance of the final CoC/CoR. KEBS will not allow amendments after issuance. Exporters/Importers must confirm details in the draft CoC/CoR within 48 hours of receipt of the draft from PVoC contractor, failure to which the same shall be issued as is.
PVoC Contractors
The role of PVoC Contractors is to undertake conformity assessment activities in the assigned zones. These
activities include inspection, sampling, testing, sealing of full-load containers (where applicable) and issuance of COCs/ CORs / NCR.
The inspection shall be scheduled in liaison with the exporter. The physical inspections shall be undertaken within four (4) working days and one (1) working day of receipt of the duly completed Request for Certification Form from the exporter for sea bound shipments and one air freight shipments respectively unless a different date is requested in writing by the exporter.
Issuance of Certificates of Conformity for compliant consignments shall be within two (2) working days and one (1) working day of receipt of final documentation.
Six (6) inspection companies (PVoC Contractors) have been contracted by KEBS to undertake PVoC activities. These are:
The inspection shall be scheduled in liaison with the exporter. The physical inspections shall be undertaken within four (4) working days and one (1) working day of receipt of the duly completed Request for Certification Form from the exporter for sea bound shipments and one air freight shipments respectively unless a different date is requested in writing by the exporter.
Issuance of Certificates of Conformity for compliant consignments shall be within two (2) working days and one (1) working day of receipt of final documentation.
Six (6) inspection companies (PVoC Contractors) have been contracted by KEBS to undertake PVoC activities. These are:
General Goods
- China Certification & Inspection Group Company Ltd
- China Hansom Inspection & Certificate Co. Ltd
- Societe Generale de Surveillance S.A
- TUV Austria (Turk) Kenya Limited
- World Standardization Certification & Testing Group (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd
Motor Vehicles, Motor Vehicle Spare Parts, and Mobile Equipment
- Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ)
KEBS
Ensure that only goods meeting the requirements of the relevant Kenya Standards or approved specification enter the country as provided for in the Standards Act Cap 496, Laws of Kenya, and the Standards (Verification of Conformity to Standards and other Applicable Regulations) Order, 2020.
Partner Government Agencies
All other government agencies with mandate over international trade operations shall continue to remain accountable for the discharge of their respective mandates in accordance with existing legal frameworks, but subject to adherence with the guidelines provided by the Government circular reference OP/CAB 9/83A dated 4th June 2019.
KRA
KRA’s mandate is Trade Facilitation, Border Security, Revenue Collection, Enforcement of prohibitions and restrictions. KRA will use the Certificate of Conformity as one of the reference documents for cargo clearance.
Countries Not Subject to the PVOC Program
Countries NOT subject to PVoC Program (Goods from these countries to be subjected to destination inspection)
| Zone No. | Zone | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Subcontinent | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal |
| 2 | Far East | North Korea |
| 3 | Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia Islands | Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Polynesia Islands, Samoa |
| 4 | Ex-Soviet Union Republics | Estonia, Latvia |
| 5 | Eastern Europe | Albania, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania |
| 6 | Nordic Countries | Iceland |
| 7 | Middle East | Israel |
| 8 | Maghreb Countries | Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara |
| 9 | North Africa | Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia |
| 10 | West Africa | Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo |
| 11 | Central Africa | Angola, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, DRC, Gabon |
| 12 | Southern Africa | Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Seychelles, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| 13 | United Kingdom and Ireland | United Kingdom and Ireland |
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