Kenya Bureau Of Standards

Kenya Bureau Of Standards (KEBS) is a government organization that sets quality standards for products and services in Kenya. It provides certification and quality control services to companies and products in Kenya. The bureau is also responsible for accrediting laboratories and other institutions that provide testing services. Products of KEBS include the Kenya Quality Mark and the Kenya Standard Mark. It has over 200 employees and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Since its founding in 1974, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has continued to be the leading government organization for the provision of Standards, Metrology, and Conformity Assessment (SMCA) services. Over that time, its primary activities have expanded from providing more comprehensive services in the areas of standards development, metrology, conformity assessment, training, and certification to developing standards and quality control for a smaller number of locally produced products in the 1970s. Since the East African Community (EAC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have been revived, KEBS activities have expanded to include involvement in the creation and execution of SMCA initiatives at the regional level, where it contributes to the harmonization of standards, measurements, and conformity assessment frameworks for regional integration. In support of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, KEBS runs the National Enquiry Point (TBT). Key responsibilities of the Kenya Bureau of Standards include the following, in the current era of trade globalization, market entry requires compliance with international standards and evidence of such compliance through an internationally recognized Standards, Measurement Systems (Metrology), Conformity Assessment, and Accreditation. First, Provision of the country's Quality Infrastructure for Facilitating Trade. Second, Productivity gains in manufacturing and service delivery are facilitated by a well-functioning, high-quality infrastructure. This promotes the judicious use of natural resources, fosters investment, and aids in employment creation. And finally, Sustainability of production systems, a good infrastructure also contributes to advances in consumer and producer sustainability, health care, consumer protection, and a more equitable distribution of national income by facilitating knowledge transfer to small businesses.