Gov’t Issues Warning as Suspected Counterfeit Sensodyne, Nivea Products Are Seized

An enforcement operation in Nairobi's Central Business District has resulted in the seizure of personal care products suspected to be counterfeit.

In a statement on Friday, September 11, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) said the operation, carried out along River Road, targeted a consignment containing Sensodyne toothpaste, toothbrushes and assorted Nivea products.

ACA said unlike counterfeit luxury products, which may mainly cause financial losses, fake personal care items can pose direct health and safety concerns because they are applied to or used on the body.

The authority said products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotions and cosmetics are part of consumers’ daily routines, making their quality important. 

ACA said suspected counterfeit toothpaste could contain unverified or unsuitable substances, while fake skincare and cosmetic products may cause irritation, allergic reactions, burns or other adverse effects.

It added that poorly manufactured toothbrushes may also fail to meet expected standards, while consumers may have no reliable way of determining where counterfeit products were manufactured, how they were stored or how they were handled before reaching shops.

ACA Nairobi Regional Manager Abdi Abikar said the enforcement action was aimed at more than simply removing illegal products from circulation.

"These are products that people use every day, often without questioning their safety. When toothpaste, toothbrushes or skincare products are counterfeited, the risk is taken directly into our homes.

"This operation is therefore not only about removing illegal goods from the market, but also about protecting families and preserving public confidence in the products they rely on," he said.

Following the seizure, consumers have been urged to buy personal care products from legitimate and reputable outlets.

They should also inspect packaging carefully and be wary of products being sold at unusually low prices.

Changes in spelling, printing quality, seals, texture, smell or general packaging can be warning signs that warrant further scrutiny before a product is purchased or used.

Elsewhere, ACA has revealed that 77 per cent of seized illicit alcohol in Kenya is locally manufactured.

The disclosure was made on Thursday, September 10, by ACA CEO Robi King’a when he appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Information, Communication and Technology to discuss the use of digital technologies and product traceability systems in combating counterfeit and illicit alcohol and protecting consumers.

The committee was told that the illicit alcohol problem extends beyond counterfeit products to include several forms of unlawful and unsafe alcohol.

"The Committee was informed that the challenge of illicit alcohol extends beyond counterfeit products to include tax-leaked, smuggled, substandard, adulterated, unlicensed artisanal and surrogate alcohol, requiring a coordinated multi-agency response," the ACA said.

The ACA noted that counterfeit alcohol represents only a narrower component of the wider illicit-alcohol problem. 

It may involve the unlawful use of protected brands, labels, caps, seals, bottles and other packaging, as well as the refilling of genuine branded bottles with illicit contents.

King’a told the committee that available seizure data showed that locally manufactured products accounted for the largest share of alcohol seized as illicit.

"He noted that ACA-cited seizure data indicated that 77 per cent of seized alcohol was locally manufactured, 15 per cent imported and eight per cent of unknown origin, although the Authority cautioned that the figures should not be treated as a nationally representative market share without the underlying methodology and cut-off date," the authority added.