Import

COMMODITIES

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Import of fresh fruits and vegetables is regulated by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) who issues the plant import permit, which must reach the plant health authorities in the country of origin for strict adherence to Kenya permit requirements. Any consignment imported into Kenya must be accompanied by a copy of a plant import permit, as well as a phytosanitary certificate. Upon arrival of the consignment, the importer must declare their consignment to a (KEPHIS) plant inspector for verification.

Click on the link below to see how to import fresh fruits and vegetables into Kenya including where to go, forms to download, requirements, costs, duration, and legal justification.

Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates:

A trader wishing to import fruits and vegetables must be registered as an importer with Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) who issue a plant import permit for each consignment imported.

For more information on how to register as an importer with KEPHIS, click on the link below.

Clearance:

Flowers

Import of flowers is regulated by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) who issue the plant import permit, which must reach the plant health authorities in the country of origin for strict adherence to Kenya permit requirements. Any consignment imported into Kenya must be accompanied by a copy of a plant import permit, as well as a phytosanitary certificate. Upon arrival of the consignment, the importer must declare their consignment to a Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) plant inspector for verification.

Click on the link below to see how to import flowers into Kenya including where to go, forms to download, requirements, costs, duration, and legal justification.

Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates:

Clearance:

Fish

Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates:

Clearance:

Import of processed fish is regulated by the Kenya Fisheries Service. The importer is issued with an import permit, per consignment and the Directorate of Veterinary Services(DVS) issues an import permit for meat and meat products. Any consignment imported into Kenya must be accompanied by an import health certificate from the country of origin. Import of processed (frozen) fish is done through the Port of Mombasa.

Import of live fish is regulated by the Kenya Fisheries Service. The importer is issued with an import permit, per consignment and the Directorate of Veterinary Services(DVS) issues an import permit for live. Import of live fish is done through air.

Medical products

Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates:

To access online services as pharmacists and other medical professionals, applicants are required to register with PPB service online portal. The applicants are then issued with user credentials which enables them to login and access the Portal.

For more information on how to register with the PPB online service portal, click on the links below.

A wholesale dealer's licence is a mandatory requirement for a trader who intends to deal with distribution, storage, importation and exportation of medical products. The licence is only issued to registered pharmacists as regulated by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). The licence expires on the 31st day of December in the year of issue.

Prior to the importation of a new pharmaceutical product, not previously registered in Kenya, an importer is required to first import a sample of the drug. This sample should be submitted both Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) and to a recognized lab which will issue a certificate of analysis, a requirement in the product registration procedure.

Clearance of a drug sample is usually done through courier service providers as most of the drug samples are small packages.

A certificate of analysis is issued after a drug has been analyzed and evaluated by a recognized lab in Kenya upon meeting its product specification. For importation and exportation of a new drug; a certificate of analysis must be submitted to Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) to facilitate the registration of the drug.

In Kenya there are three main labs that perform product analysis which include:

1. Mission for essential Drugs and Supplies ( MEDS)

2. Drug Analysis and Research unit (DARU)

3.National Quality Control Laboratory (NQCL)

Good manufacturing practices are part of the quality assurance that ensures drugs are being produced and controlled as per the quality standards that are appropriate for the end users. A certificate of good manufacturing practices is therefore granted once the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) inspectors have inspected the manufacturing site and found that it complies with the good manufacturing practices.

Product registration

Product registration is mandatory for all drugs, food supplements, herbal medicines and medical devices imported into Kenya. Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) is the mandated authority to issue traders with a product registration certificate upon successful product evaluation. Prior to issuance of the certificate, the trader is also required to have obtained a certificate of analysis (for drugs, food supplements and herbal medicines) from a recognized laboratory and a certificate of good manufacturing practices issued by PPB.

For more information on how to obtain a product registration certificate, click on the links below:

Permits:

Importation of licit drugs will require an importer to obtain an import authorization and certificate of approval of import from Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) for each consignment in compliance with the Narcotics and Psychotropic substances regulations, prior to issuance of an import permit. The import permits are processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS).

Importation of new medical devices requires an importer to obtain a medical device registration certificate from Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) who also issues an import permit for medical devices for each consignment. The import permits are processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS).

Importation of a new pharmaceutical product requires an importer to obtain a product registration certificate from Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) who also issues an import permit for pharmaceutical products for each consignment. The import permits are processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS).

All importers are required to obtain an import declaration form (IDF) for each consignment prior to importation of any commodity. Import declaration forms are processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS). Applications can either be made by the importer or the clearing agent appointed by the importer.

Clearance:

Import of pharmaceutical products is regulated by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). The importer is required to import a drug sample that is used to facilitate registration of the drug in Kenya. A product registration certificate is then issued by PPB after product evaluation has been completed successfully

Import of medical devices is regulated by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) who issues a medical device listing letter, prior to the issuance of the medical devices import permit.

Import of licit drugs is regulated by Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). Prior to issuance of the import permit, the importer is issued with an import authorization and certificate of official approval of import in compliance with the narcotics and psychotropic substances regulations.

Licences and certificates renewal:

Traders are required to lodge applications for renewals not later than 31st December every year.

For all pharmaceutical products registered in Kenya, traders are required to retain the products annually by applying for a product retention certificate which is issued by Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). The certificate expires on the 31st day of December every year.

Maize (unmilled)

Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates:

Clearance:

Pesticides

Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates:

All pesticides manufacturers outside Kenya are required to appoint an authorized representative in Kenya. The agent is then required to obtain an agency licence issued by the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB). The licence is valid for a calendar year from the date of issue.

Prior to the importation of a new pesticide product, not previously registered in Kenya, an importer is required to first import a sample of the product. The sample is used to facilitate the product registration procedure regulated by the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB).

Clearance of the sample is usually done through courier service providers as most of samples are small packages.

Product registration is mandatory for all pesticides products imported into Kenya. As the competent authority, Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) issues a product registration certificate after evaluation has been done. The product registration certificate is valid for three calendar years from the date of issue.

All premises handling pesticides in Kenya are regulated by the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) which issues a premise licence after carrying out inspection on the premises and ascertaining that the premise complies with the Pest Control Products (Licensing of Premises) Regulations. The premise licence is valid for a calendar year from the date of issue.

Permits:

Importation of a new pesticide product will require an importer to obtain a product registration certificate from Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) who also issues an import permit for pesticides for each consignment. The import permits are processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS).

Clearance:

Import of pesticides is regulated by the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB). The trader is required to import a pesticide sample that will facilitate the product registration procedure. A product registration certificate is then issued after evaluation has been done. PCPB will then issue an import permit through the Kenya TradeNet System (KESWS).

PCPB also regulates the pesticides imported into Kenya, for more information on the banned pesticides products, click here.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer import procedure (Port of Mombasa) - per consignment

Motor vehicles

All used motor vehicles imported into Kenya must be less than 8 years from the year of registration and the difference between the year of manufacture and the year of registration shall not be more than one year, the vehicle must be a right hand drive and accompanied with a certificate of roadworthiness from the country of origin issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) appointed (partners) inspection companies.

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shall then issue a registration certificate commonly known as a log book and the motor vehicle(s) number plates.

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shall then issue a registration certificate commonly known as a log book and the motor vehicle(s) number plates after inspecting the motor vehicle(s).

All new motor vehicles imported into Kenya must be registered with National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) who issues a registration certificate commonly known as a log book and the motor vehicle(s) number plates.

Motorcycles

All imported motorcycles must be accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) (partners) inspection companies in the country of origin.

For more information on how to import motorcycles, click on the links below.

Bicycles

All imported bicycles must be accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) (partners) inspection companies in the country of origin.

For more information on how to import bicycles, click on the link below.

Spare parts

All imported spare parts must be accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) (partners) inspection companies in the country of origin. Spare parts have different import duty rates, to access the rates, click here.

For more information on import of spare parts for motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles, click on the links below.

Seeds

Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates:

Import of seeds is regulated by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). Anyone intending to engage in the trade (locally) or import of seeds must first register with KEPHIS as a seed merchant. KEPHIS will issue a certificate of registration which is valid for one calendar year.

Failure to renew the seed merchant certificate of registration for two consecutive years leads to loss of status as a registered seed merchant and will require a fresh application to be made as a new applicant.

Import of seeds is regulated by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). Before a new variety or species of seed can be imported into the Kenyan market, the seed has to go under National Performance Trials (NPT) and Distinctiveness Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing; the tests are done to determine whether a new plant variety is distinct from any known plant variety in respect of specified characteristics, uniform in morphological, physiological or other accepted characteristics; and stable in its description after repeated reproduction or propagation. Once the seeds have been cleared for import, the new seed varieties will be listed in the Kenya Gazette.

For more information on how to obtain NPT and DUS test reports, click on the link below.

Clearance:

Importation of seeds is regulated by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). Importers must register with KEPHIS as importers and as seed merchants prior to importation. Seeds intended for import must first be tested and certified by KEPHIS. Any consignment of seeds imported into Kenya must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin.

Upon arrival, the importer must declare their consignment to a KEPHIS inspector for verification and drawing of samples for testing and analysis as per Chapter 2 of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) regulations, prior to issuance of a seed testing certificate.

Hides, skins, leather and leather products

Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates:

A tannery is a premise where hides and skins of animals are treated and processed to produce leather. As the competent authority in Kenya, the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) inspects the premises to ensure compliance with the set standards prior to issuance of a registration of premises certificate. The certificate is valid for one calendar year.

Permits:

Importation of hides, skins, leather and leather products will require an importer to obtain a no objection import permit from the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) prior to issuance of an import permit for each consignment. The import permits are processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS).

Animal semen and embryos

Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates:

Kenya Veterinary Board has the mandate of regulating the national development of livestock, and competent and professional animal health service provision, in order to protect the welfare of farmers, professionals in livestock development, the animals and other stakeholders. Before one can engage in the dealing of animal semen and embryos, they must register with Kenya Veterinary Board, who register and regulate veterinary surgeons and veterinary paraprofessionals. Upon registration, KVB will issue a certificate of membership which is valid for one calendar year.

Kenya Veterinary Board has the mandate of regulating the national development of livestock, and competent and professional animal health service provision, veterinary practices, clinics and veterinary training, in order to protect the welfare of farmers, professionals in livestock development, the animals and other stakeholders. Before one can engage in the dealing of animal semen and embryos, they must register with Kenya Veterinary Board, who register and regulate veterinary surgeons and veterinary paraprofessionals. Upon registration, KVB will issue a certificate of membership which must be retained annually.

Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) regulates issuance of the veterinary paraprofessional licence to anyone wishing to operate an ambulatory facility involved in the distribution or sale of animal semen. Prior to issuance of the licence, the applicant is required to first register with Kenya Veterinary Board . The licence is valid for one calendar year.

Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) regulates issuance of the veterinary surgeons licence to anyone wishing to operate a veterinary clinical centre involved in the distribution or sale of animal semen. Prior to issuance of the licence, the applicant is required to first register with Kenya Veterinary Board. The licence is valid for one calendar year.

The Livestock Genetics Society of East Africa (LGSEA) is a society that brings together all stakeholders in the delivery of Artificial Insemination (AI) services nationally, and one that offers training on AI service delivery as part of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to Animal Health and Artificial Insemination (AI) service providers. Before engaging in the importation, production, and distribution of animal semen and embryos, one must first register with LGSEA, who will issue a certificate of membership which is valid for one calendar year.

For more information on how to register with LGSEA, click on the link below.

Import of animal semen and embryos is regulated by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) who issue a livestock breeding services provider's licence. Anyone intending to engage in the production of semen bust obtain the licence, which allows service providers to carry out breeding services. The licence is valid for one calendar year.

For more information on how to obtain a livestock breeding services provider's licence, click on the link below.

Permits:

Clearance:

Meat and meat products

Live animals

Import of dogs and cats is regulated by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) who issue an import permit for dogs and cats per consignment. The import permits are processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS). The consignment must be accompanied by a vaccination certificate from the country of export.

Import of live poultry is regulated by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) who issue an import permit for live poultry per consignment. The import permit is processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS) and is valid for 90 days.

Import of breeding cattle is regulated by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) who issue an import permit for breeding cattle per consignment. The import permit is processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS) and is valid for 90 days. The consignment must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate from the country of export.

Import of sheep and goats is regulated by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) who issue an import permit for sheep and goats per consignment. The import permit is processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS) and is valid for 60 days.

Import of breeding pigs is regulated by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) who issue an import permit for breeding pigs per consignment. The import permit is processed through the Kenya National TradeNet System (KESWS) and is valid for 90 days. The consignment must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate from the country of export.

LICENCES AND CERTIFICATES

A certificate of compliance is a certified document by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), which assures that commodities have met required standards and specifications. When a consignment arrives in Kenya without a certificate of conformity, indicating that the consignment was inspected at the country of origin, an importer will have to obtain a certificate of compliance. The certificate is only issued after successful inspection and verification of the consignment is carried out by KEBS.

Import standardization mark

The Import Standardization Mark (ISM) is a mandatory requirement for all imported products intended for sale in the local market. The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is the competent authority that regulates the issuance of the ISM stickers. Application for the ISM sticker must be done before KEBS final clearance at the Port of entry.

For more information on how to obtain an Import Standardization Mark, click on the link below.

PERMITS

Import Health Certificate

An import health certificate is required for the import of all commodities that are for human consumption. Issuance of the certificate is regulated by Port Health Services and is required for each consignment.

For more information on how to obtain an import health certificate, click on the link below.

Plant import permit

The plant import permit is issued by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) allowing the import of plant and plant materials into Kenya. It ascertains that the consignment has met the requirements outlined on the permit as per the type of species. The PIP is valid for six months from the date of issue.

For more information on how to obtain a plant import permit, click on the link below.

Find your procedure by using the search bar and click on the procedure to see the step-by-step.

Import