The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has adopted eleven standards allowing Kenyan cosmetics products to access regional markets.
The new standards will also ensure the quality, fitness for use, and safety of the cosmetics to the consumers by controlling specific crucial parameters such as raw material requirements, and limits for heavy metal and microbiological contaminants.
“The new standards will facilitate trade in cosmetic products produced within the Partner States in the East African Community by use of harmonized standards,” says Lt Col (Rtd.) Bernard Njiraini, Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards.
Some of the products covered in the standards include aftershave, baby oils, body oils, deodorants and antiperspirants, glycerine, hair spray, lip balm (lip salve), lip shine (lip gloss), lipstick, and shea butter.
Data shows that the Beauty and Personal Care Industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in Kenya and it has grown by 400 per cent in four years from Ksh 26 billion in 2015 to over Ksh 100 billion in 2019.
Additionally, consumers have now become more conscious regarding the usage of cosmetics in their daily lives in an effort to step up their style quotient and overall personality.
“Cosmetic products will also be produced, prepared, and handled in accordance with international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) set for the Cosmetics industry, thus further assuring consumers of the quality and safety of the product,” Njiraini adds.
It is expected that the standards will be used by stakeholders in the cosmetics industry including manufacturers, importers, traders, testing bodies, research bodies, institutions of higher learning and regulatory bodies. Moreover, they will boost local businesses and the government agenda of increasing manufacturing of local products for economic growth.
A few weeks ago, KEBS adopted nine new footwear, hides and skins standards. According to Njiraini, they will level trade in footwear and leather products produced within member states in the East African community by use of comparable standards.
