Cheese
Match Summary
|
Field |
Result |
|
Product category |
Fresh/unripen cheese (dairy product) |
|
HS Code |
0406.10 — Fresh cheese, incl. whey cheese, and curd (confirm against commercial invoice description) |
|
Applicable Kenya Standard |
KS 28-1:2019: East African Standard — Cheese — Specification, referenced by KEBS |
|
Governing framework |
Dairy Industry (Imports and Exports) Regulations, 2004; Standards Act (Cap. 496) |
|
Compliance complexity |
High — three separate agencies must sign off before release |
Why This Category Gets Flagged
The three most common triggers for a compliance hold are:
- Non-compliant product labelling/ incorrect labelling, attracts a 3% penalty.
- Misclassification- i.e. using the wrong HS code to declare the product to avoid duty. Attracts a penalty for lost duty to Kenya Revenue Authority
- Short shelf life- food products must have a shelf life of at least 75% upon arrival. Goods with short shelf life risk destruction upon arrival
2. Regulatory Agencies Involved
|
Agency |
Role |
|
Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) |
Issues the Dairy Products Import Permit — the primary authorization to import |
|
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) |
Issues the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) via appointed agents, and the Import Standardization Mark (ISM). Destination inspection is required for goods where KEBS does not have PVoC Agents. |
|
Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) |
Reviews veterinary health certificate; inspects consignment on arrival |
|
National Environmental Authority(NEMA) |
Oversight on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees. |
|
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) |
Customs release, duty assessment, on final clearance |
Expert Note; Certificate of Origin from the country of origin’s chamber of commerce is a mandatory requirement.
Test Parameters
Cheese must be tested against the following parameters, to demonstrate compliance to the Kenyan standard
1. Microbiological Requirements (All Cheese)
- [ ] Total coliforms
- [ ] Listeria monocytogenes
- [ ] Salmonella spp.
- [ ] Staphylococcus aureus
- [ ] Escherichia coli
- 2. Additional Microbiological Requirements (For Fresh Cheese)
- [ ] Yeast & mold
- [ ] Staphylococcus aureus
3. Contaminants
- [ ] Heavy metals (Lead,)
- [ ] Pesticide residues
- [ ] Mycotoxin residues (Aflatoxin M1)
- [ ] Veterinary drug residues
Expert Note; Testing must be conducted in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, and certificates of analysis must not be older than 6months, from the date of arrival in Kenya.
Labeling Requirements
Product Name “cheese”
Milk Fat Declaration
- [ ] Declared as % by mass, % fat in dry matter (FDM), or grams per serving (with servings stated).
Country of Manufacture (Origin)
Name and Address
- [ ] Declared for manufacturer, packer, distributor, importer, exporter, or vendor.
- [ ] Identification mark permitted if traceable to accompanying documents.
Net Contents
Ingredients List
Storage Instructions
Date & Batch Information
- [ ] Date of manufacture declared.
- [ ] Expiry date declared.
- [ ] Batch code/lot identification declared (or traceable identification mark)
Expert Notes: All labelling must be in English and/Kiswahili. Date must be decoded in the format of dd/mm/yyyy
Other regulators
Port Health will typically request a Certificate of Analysis from an accredited lab, and might require verification of the consignment, National Biosafety authority might verify the consignment to verify presence of GMO
Expert Notes: All imported goods meant for the retail market must have the Import Standardization mark affixed on the product before being sold into the market.
Cost Estimate
4. Estimated Costs
| KEBS PVoC/Local COC Fees | Min 300 USD MAx 3500 USD |
| Kenya Dairy Board Permit | 200 USD |
| National Environmental Authority (NEMA) | 15USD per line |
| Import Declaration Form (IDF) | 2% of Customs Value |
| Railway Levy Development Fee |
1.5% of customs value |
|
VAT |
16% of FOB |
|
Import duty |
Assessed by KRA at applicable tariff line |
What Goes Wrong
Incorrect marking on dates
Recommended Next Steps
Contact your local clearing agent
Schedule a call with our experts
Product testing in accredited labs
Continue reading with the full compliance report.
