KFS to End Manual Forest Product Permits, Shift to Digital Processing

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) will stop manually processing import and export permits for regulated forest products from Saturday, October 31, 2026, requiring affected traders to conduct their transactions through an electronic platform.

In a public notice, KFS and the Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) said the processes would be moved to the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), which operates under the National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS).

The transition will affect importers, exporters, transporters, customs agents, clearing agents, partner government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the trade of regulated forest products. From the effective date, the corresponding manual processes at KFS offices will no longer apply.

The changes cover applications for No Objection Letters, also known as Master Permits, as well as permits for importing and exporting forest products. The associated KFS permits and fees will also be incorporated into the electronic platform.

The products covered include timber, plywood, sawdust, withies, charcoal, bamboo, veneer, resin, myrrh, tamarind, baobab, Gum Arabic, turpentine oils, rosin and resin acids. Other regulated wood products will also be covered, subject to the applicable KFS regulatory controls and Harmonised System (HS) codes used to classify traded goods.

KenTrade manages the National Electronic Single Window System, which provides a central online platform for submitting trade documentation, obtaining approvals and processing applicable government payments. The system supports the electronic handling of procedures associated with importing and exporting goods.

KFS and KenTrade said the onboarding is intended to streamline trade processes, strengthen transparency and traceability, and improve service delivery. The agencies also identified reducing paperwork and in-person visits, improving revenue collection and supporting timely clearance of regulated forest products among the objectives of the transition.

The move aligns with a Head of Public Service circular dated June 4, 2019, referenced OP/CAB/9/83A, according to the notice.

Affected stakeholders have been urged to familiarise themselves with the new electronic processing arrangements before the deadline and ensure their transactions are conducted through the Trade Facilitation Platform from October 31.