The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) on Sunday, May 17, announced the ban of eight ‘substandard’ hand sanitizers in the Kenyan market.

Through a statement to the media, KEBS said that the eight banned brands did not meet the requirements of Kenya standards after conducting a market surveillance.

“It is against this background that Kenya Bureau of Standards has suspended Standardization Permits for the above brands which have been found not to meet the standards,” read a statement by KEBS.

The eight brand include;

Alphax - Kings Palace

Clean Essentials - Virtuelle Products Ltd

G&L - Orange Pharma

Gentle Care - Bidco Africa

Lili - Kenbrands International Company

Msiri - Mafleva International Ltd

Shi shi Natural – Shishi Naturals

Spotless Advanced - Havana East Africa Trading

KEBS also ordered the manufacturers to cease manufacturing the said hand sanitizer brands and recall all of them from the market.

Once the manufactures meet the required standards, KEBS will allow the products back into the market and inform the public as well.

“The manufacturers are required to recall all the substandard sanitizers from the market and institute corrective actions whose effectiveness shall be confirmed by KEBS before the suspension of permits is lifted,” said KEBS.

KEBS further warned other manufacturers of producing substandard products adding that if found, the products will be seized and destroyed at the owner’s expense.

“KEBS shall continue to undertake market surveillance and factory inspections. Substandard products found will be seized for destruction at the expense of the owner in addition to any other legal action as provided under the law,” KEBS concluded.