Two agencies allay fears over sale of contaminated rice
By Mercy.Mwai, October 5, 2023
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and Anti Counterfeit Authority (ACA) have dismissed reports that Kenyans have been consuming contaminated rice.
Appearing before MPs, the two agencies clarified that the 10,000 bags of Pearl Biryani Rice imported from Pakistan that was released into the market between July and September last year was fit for human consumption.
ACA Executive Director Robi Njoroge and KEBS Acting Chief Executive Esther Ngari, who had appeared before the departmental committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives chaired by Embakasi North MP James Gakuya said that tests done in both private and public laboratories confirmed that the said rice had complied with requirements of grade one.
In particular, he said that tests conducted by KEBS, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis), Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority as well as Capwell Industries Limited (which complained about Intellectual Property Rights abuse ) revealed that the rice passed all the parameters.
Said Njoroge: “The rice importation was subjected to rigorous scrutiny and evaluation by reputable government agencies, including the KEBS, KEPHIS, and the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority. These agencies, acting their statutory mandates, confirmed that the imported rice was fit for human consumption contained in their respective analysis.”