Under the Standards (Standards Levy) Order 2025, all manufacturers are required to pay a standards levy to the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) issued a notice to manufacturers on 4 November 2025 regarding the implementation of the Standards (Standards Levy) Order 2025, dated 8 August 2025.
Under the Order, all manufacturers are required to pay a standards levy to the Kenya Bureau of Standards. The levy is recoverable at source at a rate of 0.2% of the manufacturer’s monthly turnover, calculated on the value of goods manufactured, net of Value Added Tax (VAT), Excise Duty, and applicable discounts. The total annual levy is capped at Kenya Shillings Four Million (KES 4,000,000).
Payments must be made through KRA iTax on or before the 20th day of the following month. Manufacturers whose monthly turnover from goods or services—after deducting Value Added Tax, Excise Duty, and discounts—does not exceed KES 5,000,000 per year are exempt from paying the levy.
Non-compliance constitutes an offence under the Standards Act, CAP 496, Laws of Kenya. For this order, a manufacturer is defined as any person or persons who produce, process, treat, install, test, operate, or use goods or services.
Manufacturers, or those intending to manufacture, must notify the Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards by submitting a registration form (SL1/1) via the KEBS Information Management System (KIMS) on the official KEBS website.
Failure to notify constitutes an offence under the Standards Act. It does not exempt the manufacturer from paying the Standards Levy and penalty, which is 5% per month on any unpaid levy.
This order became effective immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette.
