East African Business Week

NAIROBI, KENYA -- Kenyan Tea sector regulator Tea Board of Kenya, has appointed the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) as an implementation, audit and surveillance partner in ongoing efforts to formally implement a globally recognized mark of origin for Kenya tea.
The appointment of KeBS the regulator announced will now see the local standards body exclusively undertaking audit and certification for the Tea Board of Kenya Mark of Origin standard for tea packers and producers exporting their produce to international markets.
The Kenya Tea mark of origin will be used to identify and promote Kenya Tea while at the same time supporting the efforts of stakeholders in branding Kenya Tea in local and international markets.
Speaking during a joint signing ceremony with KeBS managing director Joseph Koskey, Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) managing director Sicily Kariuki said, the appointment of KeBS now sets the stage for the authentication of pure premium Kenyan tea in the local and global markets.
As a key consumer selling point, 100% Kenyan tea and tea blends manufactured or sourced from Kenya will carry the exclusive mark which will distinguish them from other products.
“Kenyan tea is globally reputed to be of the highest quality, flavor and rich colour which are rare brand attributes that we must jealously guard through the Kenya tea mark of origin,” Kariuki said.
Koskey on his part said that the statutory standards body will provide internationally benchmarked quality, inspection and testing services to ensure that Kenya tea complies with the relevant local and international standards. “To ensure traceability of the tea, KeBs will provide audit services in accordance with existing TBK procedures,” he explained.
Kenya tea exports account for close to 25% of the global tea market.