The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has cautioned manufacturers and traders against displaying its Standardisation Mark (S-Mark) on beverages infused with khat, commonly known as miraa.
In a notice on Friday, October 16, 2026, KEBS said it found that some manufacturers had been using permits approved for fruit juices and drinks to market beverages containing miraa.
According to KEBS, its S-Mark permits only cover products specifically approved under the relevant certification, meaning they cannot be used to certify unrelated products.
Additionally, it noted that miraa and its derivatives are currently excluded from its list of certified products due to regulatory concerns surrounding the stimulant substances they contain.
“KEBS currently excludes khat and khat-derived products from its product certification scheme because of the regulatory considerations relating to khat and its psychoactive constituents, including cathinone and cathine. KEBS has therefore not issued Standardisation Mark permits for any khat-infused beverages,” KEBS stated.
The bureau further warned that manufacturers and traders who misuse the certification mark could face enforcement action under the Standards Act, Cap. 496.
KEBS added that it would continue conducting market surveillance to identify businesses misrepresenting the certification status of their products, disclosing that it had already revoked permits in cases of violations.
