Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has banned the production of Zoe, Velvex, and Vitaclean hand sanitizers. The three products are among 27 products that have been banned for failing to meet health standards.
Velvex is manufactured by Chandaria Industries while Zoe is a product of Flame Tree, which is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Other brands whose production and sale has been suspended include Scental, Super-guard, Safi, MCL, Goodlife, Spot X among others.
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In a statement, KEBS said that it had ascertained that the banned brands did not meet minimum health standards. KEBS further issued orders for the products’ immediate withdrawal from the market.
“Following market surveillance activities, KEBS wishes to communicate to the public the list of hand sanitizers that have been ascertained as not meeting the requirements of KS EAS 789; Kenya Standard specification for instant hand sanitizers,” the standards regulatory body in a statement.
According to KEBS, hand sanitizers must contain 60 per cent alcohol by volume and have antiseptic properties, so that they can be used to disinfect hands on their own when soap and water are not available. “It is against this background that we share with the public the below listed substandard/none-compliant sanitisers which have been found not to meet the standard and whose permits have been suspended with immediate effect to enable consumers make informed choices that will help to ‘flatten the curve’ of spread and infection of Covid-19,” KEBS further said.
KEBS warned that failure to adhere to the set standards contravenes Standards Act, Cap 496, and called on Kenyans to be on the lookout for products suspected to be substandard.
In addition, the standards regulator advised that consumers can verify products on sale by sending the code underneath the product’s S Mark to 20023.