Kenya forges powerful alliance to combat counterfeit and illicit trade

KENYA—The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) and Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their existing relationship in combating counterfeiting.

This strategic collaboration underscores the two government agencies’ shared commitment to tackling the country’s massive counterfeit and illicit pharmaceutical trade.

According to the ACA, customs authorities in 16 countries, including Kenya, seized 113 million illegal and potentially hazardous pharmaceuticals worth Sh 6 billion( US$37.267million ) in 2016.

This is based on research conducted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the International Institute for Research Against Counterfeit Medicines (IRACM).

Dr. Robi Njoroge Mbugua, Executive Director of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, remarked at the signing ceremony that the influx of counterfeit products, particularly medications, not only threatens genuine product market share but also jeopardizes consumer health and safety.

 Dr. Mbugua stressed that imported counterfeit products infringe intellectual property rights and are completely prohibited in the country.Dr. Fred Siyoi, CEO of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, spoke on the hazards of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and stressed the government’s increasing efforts to battle their spread across the country.

 He reiterated the board’s commitment to strengthening pharmacovigilance approaches for detecting and removing hazardous products from the market.

The ACA and the PPB’s Memorandum of Understanding aims to expand their cooperation and establish a comprehensive approach to combatting counterfeit and illicit pharmaceutical trafficking.

The agreement’s key components include information exchange, collaboration on training programs, expertise sharing, technical exchanges, and outreach efforts.

Working committees will be formed to carry out the MoU, with an emphasis on thorough planning and execution of joint actions while specifying the scope of activity.

This alliance is expected to be a watershed moment in Kenya’s fight against counterfeit and illicit trade, taking a huge step toward assuring consumer safety and protecting public health.

Working committees will be established to implement the MoU, focusing on detailed planning and the execution of cooperative activities, defining the scope of action.

This collaboration is anticipated to be a landmark step forward in Kenya’s fight against counterfeit and illicit trade, marking a significant stride towards ensuring the safety of consumers and protecting public health. 

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