In a new directive, Kenya’s Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA) will now impound imported fake goods at their point(s) of entry.
In a review of the proposed Amendments to the regulations for the Anti-Counterfeit Act, the scope of counterfeiting was extended to include a provision to impound goods counterfeited outside Kenya and them imported into the country. This is according to The Star.
This is expected to result in the destruction of fake goods in the market including illicit alcohol, pharmaceuticals, as well as cosmetics that the country already imports.
The amendment will be embedded in the Act after backing by the private sector and industry players in a stakeholder forum, who felt they were not protected.
The amendments will also include consumers, as the end users to lay a complaint if they suspect an item is counterfeit with the ACA for investigations.
Previously, only complaints from trademark owners could be investigated.
A report released in February 2019 by the agency, indicated the most counterfeited goods in the market are mobile phones at a rate of 51.8 percent, alcohol at the rate of 30.8 percent, and DVD players at 26.4 percent.
The Trade Principal Secretary; Chris Kiptoo said; “In regard to the importation of counterfeits, the inspector now has the same power as that of a customs officer such as entry, examination, seizing and impounding of counterfeit goods. That’s why we are now able to conduct more robust inspections in ports of entry,”.
In April 2019, the Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA) confiscated over 100 million Kenyan Shillings worth of fake goods, among them a 40-foot container of fake circuit breakers imported from China valued at over 10 million Kenyan Shillings.
