Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015, KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in a statement advise all Malaysian exporters to adhere to the recent import regulation known as Import Standardisation Mark Stick (ISM) imposed by the Kenya Bureau of Standard (KEBS).

The ISM sticker took effect on 1st August 2015 and is a sign or mark of quality affixed to all finished imported products to demonstrate their conformity to Kenya’s approved standards. The new measure is aimed at safeguarding Kenyans from unscrupulous dealers who have been faking the current KEBS Mark of Diamond quality once their goods have been inspected.

The new mark of quality will also provide an online platform for consumers to directly authenticate the certification of goods before purchase.

There is a rollover period of five months and permission to continue using the existing mark after this period shall be granted on case by case basis, depending on situations, but it is expected that all parties should comply fully by 30th June 2016 after which no more case will be considered.

According to MATRADE’s Trade Commissioner in South Africa who also looks after the Kenyan market, Mohamed Hafiz Md Shariff, “Malaysian exporters should accustom themselves with this regulation especially with regard to the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) normally issued by inspection agency in the country of origin as this is a basic requirement for application of ISM. This will facilitate a faster and smoother operation of clearance for goods and avoid demurrage cost”.

He further said, “Malaysian exporters should liaise with their importers in order not to violate this new requirement. Failing which might result in the goods imported be reshipped back to the exporters at their own expenses”.

To apply for the ISM, importers and clearing agents are required to submit copies of Certificate of Conformity, Import Declaration Form and Customs Entry Form to the bureau. From Jan to July 2015, Malaysia’s exports to Kenya were valued at RM1.1 billion, mainly in petroleum products, crude & refined palm oil products.