Kenya Revokes Chinese Company’s Licence Over Illegal Imports
The Ministry of Health has withdrawn the operational license of a Chinese cigarette manufacturer based on Mombasa Road in Nairobi, following the illegal importation of tobacco.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), raided the enterprise on March 25 and discovered that it had imported 1,716 cartons comprising 11 distinct illegal tobacco brands.
According to the published document, four of the eleven tobacco brands seized by government officers were missing from the Ministry of Health’s database.
Following the investigation, the firm’s manager received a formal letter informing them of the company’s license revocation and detailing the reasons for the withdrawal of the operating permission.
“Four brands were not found in the MoH database. Upon further evaluation, all 11 brands were found to violate the Tobacco Control Act 2007 and Tobacco Control Regulations 2014,” the notice read in part.
“The purpose of this letter is to inform you that all clearance letters issued to your company earlier authorizing the importation of the tobacco products are hereby withdrawn/canceled and recalled with immediate effect,” the letter issued by Tobacco Control Board Secretary Anthony Wainana revealed.
The license was revoked just two months after the authorities warned the company about importing tobacco goods that did not meet rules.
According to Wainana, despite warnings, the corporation continued to import unlawful materials.
“You are advised to ensure that tobacco and nicotine products imported into the country are compliant with the regulations,” the previous warning reads in part.
“Note that the clearance can be withdrawn without prior notice if the products imported are found to be non-compliant,” the previous warning continued.
Following the revocation, the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Commissioner General was told that the import approval had been withdrawn.
In addition to revoking the licenses, DCI officers captured two Chinese citizens in connection with the company.
Kenya Revokes Chinese Company’s Licence Over Illegal Imports
