The Tobacco Control Board has suspended the importation licence of a company for allegedly distributing non-compliant tobacco products.
This follows a multi-agency inspection on March 25, 2025, by officials from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at a storage facility on Mombasa Road.
According to a notice to the particular company, the inspection conducted revealed 11 tobacco brands were found to be in violation of the Tobacco Control Act 2007 and Tobacco Control Regulations 2014.
Among these, four brands were not listed in the MOH’s official database, raising red flags about their legality and safety.
In a formal notice issued by Anthony Wainaina, Secretary of the Tobacco Control Board, the agency announced the immediate suspension of the company's importation licence and the cancellation of all previously issued clearance letters.
"The purpose of this letter there is to inform you that all clearance letters issued to your company earlier authorizing the importation of the tobacco products are hereby withdrawn/ cancelled and recalled with immediate effect," it reads.
The notice emphasised that clearance can be withdrawn without prior notice if products are found to be non-compliant.
The Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority has also been informed of the suspension.
The Board had on February 27, this year written to the said company in reference to a request for Compliance clearance on pictorial health warnings for the importation of cigarettes.
In its response, the Ministry of Health acknowledged receipt of the cigarette samples on February 20, 2024 for review.
Following an evaluation by the Drug and Substance Abuse Control Division, the packaging and labeling of the products were found to be compliant with Section 21 of the Tobacco Control Act, 2007 and Part II of the Tobacco Control Regulations, 2014.
The company was cautioned that all future imports must strictly adhere to the Tobacco Control Act and Regulations, including the mandatory payment of Solatium Compensation.
Importantly, the approval was issued with a warning that clearance could be withdrawn without prior notice should any non-compliance be detected.
The clearance was valid for one year, with a requirement to reapply upon expiry and provide proof of Solatium payment along with the annual disclosure report, as per Sections 12 and 13 of the Tobacco Control Act.
