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Wildlife & wildlife products
- Permits per consignment
  - Wildlife & wildlife products export permit
    - Export permit for wildlife & wildlife products (Non-CITES)
    - Export permit for wildlife & wildlife products (CITES)

Food supplements
- Preliminary registrations, licences and certificates
  - Product registration certificate (for food supplements)
- Permits per consignment

Gum arabic

Preliminary registrations, licences & certificates

The regulation of plant & plant materials is under the mandate of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), who is responsible for the assurance of plant health, seed, plant variety, & agro-inputs quality issues in Kenya, to prevent adverse impact on the economy, the environment and human health. Importers of plant & plant materials are required to obtain a Plant Import Permit (PIP) per consignment, which is processed through KEPHIS’ Integrated Export Import Certification System (IEICS). For more information on how to register on IEICS, click the link.

The Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) is a State Corporation mandated to establish, implement & manage the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and to facilitate trade. The TFP is an online platform that serves as a single entry point for parties involved in international trade & transport logistics to lodge documents electronically, for processing, approvals and to make payments electronically for fees, levies, duties & taxes due to the Government, on imported or exported goods. Training is mandatory for new users of the system prior to registration on the system; this includes new staff from organizations already registered on the TFP. For more information on how to register on the TFP, click the link.

Permits per consignment

Import Declaration Form (IDF)

The Import Declaration Form (IDF) is a declaration of the customs value of a consignment, and is issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA), Customs Services Department. Importers are required to complete an IDF and sign it to show that they have declared the true & accurate value of the imported goods before they leave the country of origin. IDFs that remain unutilized after three (3) months from the date of issuance will automatically attract the appropriate sanctions. For more information on how to obtain an IDF, click the link.

Plant Import Permit (PIP)

Import of plant & plant materials is regulated by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) who issue a Plant Import Permit (PIP) per consignment, which ascertains that the consignment has met the requirements outlined on the permit as per the type of species, and ensure that foreign injurious pests, diseases & noxious weeds which are non-existent in Kenya are not introduced or spread when importing plant material into the country. The PIP is valid for six (6) months from the date of issue. For more information on how to obtain the PIP, click the link.

Local Certificate of Conformity (CoC) (only applies to consignments that arrive without a CoC)

A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is a certified document issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), which assures that commodities have met the required standards & specifications. When a consignment arrives in Kenya without a CoC, indicating that the consignment was inspected at the country of origin, an importer is required to obtain a local CoC. The certificate is only issued after successful inspection & verification of the consignment is carried out by KEBS. For more information on how to obtain a local CoC, click the link.

Import Standardization Mark (ISM) permit (only applies to consignments for sale in the local market)

The Import Standardization Mark (ISM) permit is a mandatory requirement for all imported products intended for sale in the local market. Importers are therefore required to obtain ISM stickers from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and are advised to apply for them once the goods have arrived, and the customs entry has been verified and is in under control status. The following products are exempted from the ISM sticker; medicines, medical devices, pest control products, seeds (plant materials), printed materials e.g., books, newspapers, magazines etc., precious stones, jewellery etc., illuminated signs & name plates etc., motor vehicles & bikes (covered under a different inspection regime), artificial flowers, walking sticks, antiques etc., products manufactured in an East African Community (EAC) Partner State, and bears a quality mark of that Partner State.

Clearance procedures

Gum arabic import procedure through the Lunga Lunga One Stop Border Post (OSBP)

In accordance with the provisions of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), goods for importation shall be entered (declared) within twenty-one (21) days after the commencement of discharge or in the case of vehicles, on arrival. Importers are required to acquire the services of a licensed customs clearing agent, who is mandated to process the importation documents in the Customs system and assist in clearing goods on the importer’s behalf. For more information on how to import a consignment of gum Arabic through the Lunga Lunga OSBP, click the link.

Gum arabic import procedure through the Taveta-Holili One Stop Border Post (OSBP)

Gum arabic import procedure through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)

Gum arabic import procedure through the Eldoret International Airport (EIA)

Gum arabic import procedure through the Moi International Airport (MIA)

Gum arabic import procedure through the Port of Mombasa

In accordance with the provisions of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), goods for importation shall be entered (declared) within twenty-one (21) days after the commencement of discharge or in the case of vehicles, on arrival. Importers are required to acquire the services of a licensed customs clearing agent, who is mandated to process the importation documents in the Customs system and assist in clearing goods on the importer’s behalf. For more information on how to import a consignment of gum arabic through the Port of Mombasa, click the link.

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