Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has refuted reports alleging that government authorities hatched a sinister plot to release contaminated rice worth Ksh150 million to the market.
On Friday, August 25, the authority clarified that allegations of contaminated rice being seized and later released to the public, as the Daily Nation, Nation Africa and NTV exposed, were misleading.
ACA explained that the company on which Nation Media Group pegged their story imported 10,000 bags of rice from Pakistan into the country on or about June 28, 2022.
"The importation was approved by reputable government agencies based on scientific tests as fit for human consumption within their respective statutory mandates," the Anti-Counterfeit Authority defended itself.
According to ACA, the Kenya Bureau of Standards approved the rice, which was supposed to expire on July 14, 2023, per the health indicators.
The authority stated that the Kenya Bureau of Standards, in a laboratory test report reference number BS202223900 dated September 17, 2022, found the rice fit for human consumption as it had passed all the test parameters.
The rice was also tested and approved by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) by way of plant importation permit number KEPHIS/PIP/0003435 dated 18 June 2022.
"The importer made payment for all government duties including to the Kenya Revenue Authority and the consignment was allowed for importation into the country as food items fit for human consumption," ACA explained.
In a letter that was signed by Dr. Robi Mbugua Njoroge, Anti-Counterfeit Authority Chief Executive Officer, the authority, however, acknowledged a controversy that ensued on July 26, 2022, when another company filed a formal complaint with the authority alleging abuse of their intellectual property rights and health risks posed by the importer's rice.
Consequently, in the exercise of its statutory mandate, the authority seized the rice imported on August 31, 2023, for further investigation.
"Consistent with the investigative process of the authority on September 9, 2022, supplied samples to the complainant for analysis and also submitted samples to the Kenya Bureau of Standards on September 16, 2022, once again, for testing.
"All these were meant, among other things, to ascertain that the rice was fit for human consumption and did not pose a risk or threat to human and public health," ACA explained.
However, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority explained that all the issues raised were investigated and cleared after numerous tests and verification.
The Daily Nation reported, "The shipment from Pakistan comprised more than 10,000 bags of rice packaged as a popular brand and estimated to be worth Sh150 million. Except that the rice that was stored at a go-down in Shimanzi, Mombasa, wasn't a well-known brand. It was counterfeit.
According to the media house, a portion of the rice had already reached the market by the time the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) learnt of its arrival in Kenya in July 2022.
It added that ACA was tipped off by a Thika-based food maker, which discovered the contaminated rice being sold disguised as its brand. ACA raided the go-down in Mombasa and impounded the remaining stocks of the counterfeit rice but entered into a deal with the importer to release the commodity.
