Robi Njoroge, the Executive Director of the authority, has urged small traders to remain vigilant against counterfeit products and report any suspicious makers or importers to the authority.
Speaking at a meeting in Nairobi between ACA and representatives of small businesses, Njoroge emphasized the importance of utilizing Electronic Recordation declaration systems for importers.
He highlighted that these systems are automated platforms used by customs administration to manage and process import data, thereby enhancing the efficiency of customs operations.
The meeting saw the participation of stakeholders from various government agencies, including the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), and the National Police Service.
Njoroge disclosed that raising awareness among business people and Kenyans, in general, would be a significant focus during the upcoming International Symposium on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement (ISIPPE), to be hosted by ACA in Nairobi next month.
“ACA takes the protection of businesses so seriously that it will be a major topic on the agenda for the ISIPPE conference, which will be held at KICC in June,” he stated.
Peter Kariuki, Chairman of the Nairobi Small Traders Association, applauded ACA’s efforts to engage the business community in the fight against counterfeiting and to educate them about new legal frameworks related to importation.
Kariuki emphasized that modern digitized efforts aimed at authenticating goods from source countries would benefit both importers and consumers by protecting them from counterfeit products.
He pledged full support from his association for the government’s multi-agency initiative to promote and protect legitimate trade while ensuring public safety from harmful products.
Kariuki underscored the importance of creating widespread public awareness, enforcing regulations, and sharing intelligence and information to effectively curb the trade in illicit goods.
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