Advancing Trade Through Accreditation: KENAS at the Kenya–EU Consultative Workshop

Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) participated in the Kenya–European Union Consultative Workshop on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Rules of Origin Protocol and the inaugural Special Committee Meeting on Customs and Trade Facilitation, held in Nairobi.

Co-chaired by the State Department for Trade and the European Union Delegation in Nairobi, the sessions brought together key government agencies, industry stakeholders, and trade partners to deliberate on critical customs and trade facilitation matters.

The Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force on 1st July 2024, establishes a framework that allows duty-free and quota-free access for Kenyan products to the European market. It also creates a predictable, rules-based environment for European businesses operating in Kenya and across the region.

KENAS’s participation reaffirmed its vital role in supporting trade facilitation through accreditation — ensuring that Kenya’s conformity assessment services (testing, inspection, and certification) are internationally recognized.

Through accreditation, KENAS strengthens the competitiveness of Kenyan exports, enhances consumer and market confidence, and helps open new opportunities for farmers, manufacturers, and exporters — ultimately contributing to inclusive economic growth and sustainable trade development.