Nairobi: The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) has issued a directive for all individuals and firms involved in sugar re-packaging to register with the Board by November 17th, 2025, to comply with new regulations. This move is aimed at enhancing regulatory oversight and ensuring consumer safety by addressing rising concerns regarding the integrity of packaged sugar products.
According to Kenya News Agency, the directive, announced via a public notice on November 5th, references the Sugar Act 2024 (Section 61) and the Sugar (General) Regulations, 2025. It mandates that any entity re-packaging sugar for retail must obtain formal clearance from the KSB. This requirement is part of a broader reform initiative to streamline the sugar value chain, improve product traceability, and combat the circulation of substandard or adulterated sugar by unscrupulous operators.
The KSB’s initiative is designed to reinforce quality-control systems, ensuring adherence to food safety standards and protecting consumers from health risks related to poorly handled or contaminated sugar. The new regulations also aim to create a level playing field by safeguarding legitimate traders from illegal re-packaging activities that lead to unfair competition and market distortion.
To comply with the registration process, companies and individuals must submit their details and supporting documents electronically through the Board’s Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) portal. Only applicants meeting the established criteria, including quality control, packaging, storage, and record-keeping, will be approved and publicly listed as authorized operators.
The Board cautioned that failure to comply with this directive would result in severe sanctions, such as suspension or cancellation of re-packaging rights and potential legal action for persistent violations. This move aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to streamline the sugar industry, which has been plagued by issues like illicit trade, weak quality control, and significant market performance challenges.
Unregulated re-packaging is seen by authorities as a loophole that allows poor-quality sugar to enter the market, compromising consumer well-being, eroding tax revenue, and unfairly threatening legitimate millers and traders. Stakeholders are encouraged to consult the Board’s headquarters or authorized website for detailed information on registration and compliance procedures.
This policy shift underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening oversight across the entire sugar supply chain-from cane cultivation and processing to logistics, storage, and distribution-with the goal of securing fair competition, protecting agricultural producers, and guaranteeing safe products for consumers nationwide.
