Editor's Review
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has warned manufacturers and traders against displaying its standardization mark on beverages infused with miraa and marketed as jaba juice.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has warned manufacturers and traders against displaying its standardization mark on beverages infused with miraa.
In a notice on Friday, October 16, KEBS said it had established cases in which manufacturers certified to produce fruit juices and drinks were using their permits to market miraa-infused beverages popularly known as jaba juice.
The bureau clarified that its certification permits apply only to products covered by the approved scope of certification and cannot be used to market products outside that scope.
KEBS noted that miraa and miraa-derived products are currently excluded from its product certification scheme due to regulatory considerations.
“KEBS currently excludes khat and khat-derived products from its product certification scheme because of the regulatory considerations relating to khat and its psychoactive constituents, including cathinone and cathine. KEBS has therefore not issued Standardization Mark permits for any khat-infused beverages,” read the notice in part.
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The bureau warned that displaying its standardization mark on such beverages amounts to misrepresentation of their certification status and could attract enforcement action.
KEBS also mentioned that it had revoked certification permits in identified cases of non-compliance.
“KEBS has revoked certification permits in identified cases of non-compliance and will continue to undertake market surveillance and take appropriate action against manufacturers and traders found misusing the Standardization Mark,” the notice read.
Further, the regulator advised the public that the beverages are not currently certified by KEBS and that any claims suggesting otherwise are misleading.
“Manufacturers and traders are therefore cautioned against displaying the KEBS Standardization Mark or making claims of KEBS certification on khat-infused beverages.
“Members of the public are equally advised that khat-infused beverages are not currently certified by KEBS, and any representation to the contrary is misleading,” the notice added.
This comes months after the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) announced that Djibouti has agreed to allow imports of Kenyan miraa into the country.
In a statement on July 23, AFA said the development followed months of diplomatic and trade engagements between the two countries.
AFA said the deal stemmed from a Trade Mission to Djibouti in October 2024, and a return visit by a Djibouti delegation in November 2024.
"The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) wishes to notify the public and stakeholders of new export opportunities for Kenyan miraa (khat) to Djibouti, following successful trade engagements between the two nations.
"As a result of a Trade Mission to Djibouti in October 2024, and a reciprocal visit by a Djibouti delegation in November 2024, Djibouti has opened its market for Kenyan miraa, subject to regulatory compliance," the statement read.
