The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has warned manufacturers and traders against using its Standardization Mark to market beverages infused with khat, commonly known as miraa or muguka, saying the products are not currently covered by its certification scheme.
In a public notice dated October 16, 2026, KEBS said it had identified cases where manufacturers holding valid certification permits for fruit juices and fruit drinks were using the same permits to market khat-infused beverages, commonly sold as jaba juice.
The standards regulator clarified that certification permits are only valid for products explicitly covered by the approved scope of certification and cannot be extended to other products without authorization.
KEBS said khat and khat-derived products are currently excluded from its product certification scheme due to regulatory considerations surrounding the plant and its psychoactive constituents, including cathinone and cathine.
Consequently, the agency stated that it has not issued Standardization Marks for any khat-infused beverages. It warned that displaying the KEBS mark or claiming that such drinks have been certified by the regulator amounts to misrepresentation of their certification status.
The agency said such violations could attract enforcement action under the Standards Act, Cap. 496, which provides the legal framework for standards regulation in Kenya.
KEBS further disclosed that it had revoked certification permits in identified cases of non-compliance and would continue conducting market surveillance to identify manufacturers and traders misusing its Standardization Mark.
Manufacturers and traders have been cautioned against displaying the mark or making claims of KEBS certification on khat-infused beverages.
The regulator also urged members of the public to remain vigilant when purchasing such products, noting that any representation suggesting the drinks are KEBS-certified is misleading.
Consumers have been advised to verify the certification status of products through the agency's official verification channels, including the SMS service available on 20023.
Members of the public who suspect misuse of the Standardization Mark have also been encouraged to report the cases through KEBS' toll-free number, 1545.
The agency said the measures are intended to protect consumers, preserve the integrity of Kenya's product certification system and ensure that manufacturers and traders comply with applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
The warning comes as KEBS seeks to reinforce compliance with certification rules and prevent businesses from using permits issued for approved products to create the impression that other products have undergone the same assessment.
