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{
    "id": 1475267,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1475267/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 48,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dagoretti South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Kiarie",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No. 44 (2) (c), I wish to request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co-operatives regarding the renewal of the Standardisation Mark from the Kenya Bureau of Standards, also known as KEBS. In 2023, KEBS revised the Standardisation Mark (SM) permit, extending the validity period from one year to two years. That change raised concern among businesses, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as an annual renewal period aligns better with their financial planning, operational cycles and ensures product quality and safety in a rapidly evolving business environment. Moreover, questions have arisen about the alignment of that two-year cycle to KEBS mandate of supporting fair competition in the country. It is also deeply concerning that companies restarting their operations after COVID-19 related shutdowns are facing back-pay penalties by KEBS. Those penalties impose a significant financial burden on businesses already struggling to recover from economic hardships. Such measures hinder rather than support job creation and economic recovery which are crucial for the growth of the nation. Instructively, the regulatory environment should support businesses, especially SMEs, in their efforts to create jobs and to contribute to economic development. Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co-operatives on the following: 1. The rationale behind extending the validity period of the standardisation mark and the impact of that on product quality and fair competition, especially for SMEs. 2. The justification for imposing back-pay penalties on businesses restarting after COVID-19 related shutdowns. 3. The measures that the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry is taking to ensure the regulatory environment supports SMEs in economic recovery, rather than penalising those businesses that are recovering from the COVID-19 shutdown. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}