Kenyans may soon have an easier way of identifying genuine products after the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) launched a new digital verification system aimed at tackling the growing trade in counterfeit goods.
The system, unveiled during World Anti-Counterfeiting Day celebrations in Nairobi on Thursday, will allow consumers to confirm the authenticity of products before making purchases.
ACA Chief Executive Officer Robi King’a said the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to protect consumers from fake products that continue to find their way into the market, often putting lives and livelihoods at risk.
The digital security devices will first be rolled out in sectors that have been heavily affected by counterfeit goods, including pharmaceuticals, agricultural inputs, cosmetics and alcoholic beverages.
According to King’a, the move is expected to give consumers greater confidence when buying products while also protecting legitimate businesses from losses caused by counterfeit traders.
He noted that public awareness remains one of the strongest tools in the fight against fake goods.
“Awareness creation can suppress the demand for counterfeit goods in our market. The other one is also to carry out raids on suspected counterfeit goods,” said King’a.
He added that the Authority has made significant progress in the fight against counterfeit trade since its establishment.
“Since the formation of this authority, we have managed to seize goods worth Ksh400 billion and destroyed counterfeit goods worth Ksh200 million, and we continue doing this to protect consumers and protect brand owners,” he said.
Beyond the new verification system, ACA is also pursuing legal reforms aimed at strengthening enforcement against counterfeit products sold through online platforms and across borders as traders increasingly shift to digital marketplaces.
This recent announcement comes barely a few days after ACA issued a warning to firms trading in counterfeit goods that a national crackdown will be carried out across the country.
On June 10, ACA stated that its inspectors had powers under the Anti-Counterfeit Act, 2008, to enter premises, search and seize counterfeit products without first having to get an order from a court of law.
ACA made it clear that although the inspectors would exercise their powers in terms of enforcement, the investigation process would adhere to the procedures of the law.
“Court order is not necessary for the seizure of counterfeit goods, but the investigation and subsequent legal processes are guided by the law,” ACA indicated in an earlier statement.
The Authority has now called upon manufacturers, traders, and consumers to acquaint themselves with the provisions of the Anti-Counterfeit Act in order to help in checking the growth of counterfeit products in the market.
For consumers, the recently introduced electronic authentication will serve as an extra security measure when fears about counterfeit medicines, agro-inputs, and household products are on the rise.