State orders mandatory registration of all sugar packers

The government has announced mandatory registration for all sugar packers in the country. The directive is set to take effect Tuesday. October 15, 2024.

The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has directed companies involved in sugar repackaging to provide their details.

This bid by the AFA as stated in a notice on Tuesday is aimed at improving the quality and traceability of sugar products in Kenya.

This registration process follows the Crops Act No. 16 of 2013, which states that all sugar packers must meet certain guidelines to guarantee safe sugar for consumers.

"Pursuant to the Provisions of the Crops Act No 16 of 2013, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) intends to register all sugar packers for purposes of enhancing traceability and the monitoring of sugar quality at the retail shelves," reads the notice.

The new requirement aims to ensure that sugar quality is checked and maintained at all retail outlets.

According to a public notice, sugar packers need to fill out Form 9, which is the application for registering sugar repackaging. This form can be found on the AFA website.

Along with the form, packers must submit several documents: a trademark registration certificate, a sample of the sugar brand, a certificate of incorporation or business name, a valid tax compliance certificate, ID or passports of directors, details of the weight to be repackaged (in kilograms or grams), and approval from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) that confirms compliance with labelling rules.

This registration requirement shows Kenya's commitment to improving food safety and quality, especially amid recent worries about low-quality products entering the market.

Sugar packers are encouraged to complete the registration process to avoid any disruptions to their businesses.