The Standardization Mark (S-Mark) is Kenya’s mandatory product certification scheme for locally manufactured goods, governed by Section 10 of the Standards Act, Cap. 496 of the Laws of Kenya, and administered by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). A permit to use the S-Mark certifies that a specific product, brand, and production site conform to the requirements of the relevant Kenya Standard (KS). All payments are made at the time of application via the KEBS Information Management System (KIMS) at kims.kebs.org.
Firms are classified by annual turnover into Large Manufacturing Enterprises (LME, over KES 500,000 turnover), Medium Manufacturing Enterprises (MME, KES 200,000–500,000), and Small and Micro Enterprises (SME, below KES 200,000), with fees scaled accordingly.
Standardization Mark Permit Fee Summary Table
| Fee Component | Amount (KES) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Factory inspection fee | 40,000 | Paid at application |
| First three brands/products/sites (LME) | 20,000 | Per brand/product/site |
| Each additional brand (LME) | 15,000 | Per additional brand |
| First three brands (SME) | 10,000 | Per brand/product/site |
| Each additional brand (SME) | 10,000 | Per additional brand |
| Standard levy registration | 0.2% of ex-factory price | Per year; minimum KES 1,000 |
| Permit change request | 1,000 | Per change upon evaluation and approval |
| Estimated total procedure cost | ~70,000 | For a typical LME first-time application |
Ex-factory price is the selling price less VAT and discounts. Standard levy registration is a recurring annual obligation.
Key Requirements
Applicants must complete form STA 1 on KIMS and provide a routine inspection report (STA 10). KEBS quality assurance officers conduct a factory visit to inspect premises and take samples for testing at KEBS laboratories or accredited labs. If samples pass, a recommendation is made to the Permit Standardization Committee (PSC), which issues the permit. D-Mark holders qualify automatically for the S-Mark at no additional charge.
Contact
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
Popo Road, KEBS Building, P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi 00200
Tel: +254 20 6948000 | Email: info@kebs.org | Website: kebs.org
