KRA explains how to identify fake alcohol in 4 steps

Counterfeit alcohol has become a growing concern in the Kenyan market, prompting the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to highlight its Soma Label app as a consumer tool for verifying excise stamps. The app, available for free on both Android and iPhone devices, is designed to help the public confirm the authenticity of excise stamps on products.

KRA explains that counterfeit products may have copied or altered tax stamps, making it difficult to differentiate genuine goods from illicit ones based solely on packaging. To use the app, consumers can scan the product barcode and subsequently check the code on the excise stamp. The system then compares the information from the product with the records held in KRA's excisable goods management system.

A successful verification means the excise stamp matches the information on KRA's system, and the app can also provide product-specific details from its track-and-trace system. KRA emphasizes that consumers should pay attention to the information displayed and not just rely on the appearance of the tax stamp. Recent reports have raised concerns about unusual information appearing after scans, suggesting inconsistencies that could indicate fraudulent products.

Such discrepancies should be reported to KRA. The Authority has previously warned about the circulation of counterfeit excise stamps and urged consumers to buy excisable goods from licensed manufacturers and approved distributors. Soma Label is part of Kenya's broader efforts to combat illicit trade, aiming to protect consumers, support revenue collection, and detect counterfeit excisable products.