{
  "id": 14897645,
  "title": "KEBS Warns Traders Against Misusing Certification Marks on Jaba Juice",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/kebs-warns-traders-against-misusing-certification-marks-on-jaba-juice",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T07:05:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KahawaTungu",
    "slug": "kahawatungu",
    "url": "https://kahawatungu.com/kebs-warns-traders-against-misusing-certification-marks-on-jaba-juice/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has cautioned manufacturers and traders against misusing its Standardization Mark (S-Mark) on beverages containing khat, also known as miraa or muguka, and sold as jaba juice. In a public announcement, KEBS stated that it had found instances where manufacturers licensed for fruit juices and beverages were marketing khat-infused drinks using certification permits meant for those approved products. KEBS emphasized that certification permits are only valid for the products specified in the approved certification scope and do not apply to khat-infused beverages or other unrelated items. The agency explained that khat and khat-derived products are currently outside the range of its product certification program due to regulatory issues surrounding the plant and its psychoactive compounds, such as cathinone and cathine. KEBS has not issued any Standardization Mark permits for khat-infused beverages and has warned that displaying the S-Mark or stating KEBS certification on such products misrepresents their true certification status. The standards body stated that such actions could lead to enforcement measures under the Standards Act, Cap. 496. KEBS has taken action against identified non-compliant cases by revoking certification permits and will continue monitoring the market for further misuse. The agency has advised consumers that these beverages are not currently certified by KEBS and that any claims to the contrary are misleading. Consumers are encouraged to verify certification status through official KEBS channels, including the SMS code 20023. The public can report suspected misuse of the Standardization Mark to KEBS via their toll-free number 1545.",
  "summary": "The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has warned manufacturers and traders against misusing its Standardization Mark (S-Mark) on beverages containing khat, commonly known as miraa or muguka, and marketed as jaba juice. In a public notice, KEBS said it had identified cases in which manufacturers licensed to produce fruit juices and fruit drinks were using [...] The post KEBS Warns Traders Against…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "KEBS warns against misuse of Standardisation Mark on jaba juice",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/kebs-warns-against-misuse-of-standardisation-mark-on-jaba-juice",
        "published": "2026-10-16T07:50:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}