GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 8740

IT IS notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, has established a Committee to be known as the National Technical Barriers to Trade Committee pursuant to the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization and further to Article 15.2 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade of the World Trade Organization which shall consist of members from the following institutions: State Department for Trade State Department for Industry Agriculture and Food Authority Agriculture Sector Network Agro Chemical Association of Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Authority Center for Policy and Strategic Interventions International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Authority of Kenya Consumer Information Network Council of Governors Directorate of Veterinary Services Fish Processors and Exporters Association Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Kenya Accreditation Service Kenya Association of Manufacturers Kenya Bureau of Standards Kenya Dairy Board Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency Kenya Fisheries Service Kenya Flower Council Kenya Industrial Property Institute Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis Kenya International Freight forwarding and Warehousing Association Kenya Investment Authority Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service Kenya Private Sector Alliance Kenya Revenue Authority Kenya Trade Network Agency Ministry of Environment Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Ministry of Health Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse National Biosafety Authority National Environment Management Authority National Transport and Safety Authority Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice Pests Control Products Board Pharmacy and Poisons Board Shippers Council of East Africa State Department of Crop Development State Department for East African Community State Department for Information University of Nairobi Veterinary Medicines Directorate Weights and Measures Directorate 1. The Principal Secretary responsible for International Trade or a designated representative shall be the Chairperson of the Committee. 2. The Ministry responsible for International Trade shall be the National Notification Authority. 3. The Terms of Reference of the Committee shall be to— (a) monitor, guide and advise the Government on the implementation and the administration of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement in Kenya, and shall, in particular, be responsible for— (i) operation and administration of the National Enquiry Point and National Notification Authority obligations; (ii) the Technical Barriers to Trade issues in Regional Trade Agreements by participating in— (A) the East African Community Technical Barriers to Trade Regional Forum; (B) the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Standardization Quality Assurance and Metrology Technical Barriers to Trade Committee; (C) the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa– Southern African Development Community–East African Community Tripartite Technical Barriers to Trade Subcommittee; (D) the African Continental Free Trade Area Technical Barriers to Trade Subcommittee; and (iii) The formulation, review and enforcement of policies relating to technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures. (b) serve as a Coordinating Committee for— (i) addressing, consulting and collaborating on Technical Barriers to Trade related matters within Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Counties, and between public and private sectors; (ii) developing national positions on Technical Barriers to Trade negotiations and discussions at the national, regional and international levels; (iii) participating and advocating for the interests of Kenya at international, regional and bilateral forums on Technical Barriers to Trade related matters; (iv) analyzing and providing input into discussions in the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade Committee including Triennial Reviews and Specific Trade Concerns; and (v) preparing the required notifications to the World Trade Organization Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade. (c) promote cooperation and collaboration in Technical Barriers to Trade matters with— (i) various stakeholders, including Government agencies, industry, consumer organizations, and academia; and (ii) trade facilitating bodies on any Technical Barriers to Trade measures that affect trade. (d) provide and disseminate information on Technical Barriers to Trade matters as follows— (i) promote awareness and understanding of Technical Barriers to Trade measures among all stakeholders; (ii) collect, analyze, and disseminate information related to Technical Barriers to Trade issues, including notifications, best practices, guidelines, and updates on international standards to relevant stakeholders; and (iii) provide training and capacity-building initiatives for stakeholders to enhance understanding of Technical Barriers to Trade measures; (e) compile and submit periodic reports on the committee’s activities, findings, and recommendations to the relevant Government authority; 4076 4076 (f) develop and action resource mobilizing strategies, and procedures for relevant information and best practices as appropriate for the facilitation of trade; (g) establish such Subcommittees or Working Groups as may be required for Technical Barriers Trade matters; (h) identify technical assistance and capacity building needs in Technical Barriers Trade matters; (i) monitor developments in Trade and Good Regulatory Practices; and (j) review any other issues pertaining to Technical Barriers Trade. 4. In the execution of its Terms of Reference, the Committee shall, with the approval of the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Trade— (a) co-opt members or appoint nominees as it deems fit only for specialized aspects of its Terms of Reference; (b) do or perform such other functions or acts as necessary to expedient for the execution of its Terms of Reference; (c) develop a National Technical Barriers Trade Strategic Plan which shall be reviewed every five years and amended whenever need arises; (d) propose and approve an Annual Action Plan. Additional activities that were not proposed in the original Action Plan can be proposed by Members and endorsed by the Committee; and (e) regulate its own procedure. 5. The Kenya Bureau of Standards shall be the Technical Barriers Trade National Enquiry Point and Secretariat to the Committee, and in this regard, it shall— (a) respond to enquiries on Technical Barriers Trade matters originating from stakeholders or trading partners; (b) prepare and analyze Technical Barriers Trade notifications for submission; (c) organize and coordinate National Technical Barriers Trade Committee activities; (d) prepare Technical Barriers Trade related documentation; (e) coordinate Technical Barriers Trade Sub-Committees and Working Groups; (f) disseminate information on Technical Barriers Trade issues among the stakeholders; (g) coordinate public awareness of matters related to Technical Barriers Trade; (h) follow up on Technical Barriers Trade related decisions; and (i) mobilize resources for the National Technical Barriers Trade Committee activities. 6. The Committee shall submit a report to the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry responsible for International Trade its annual report not later than 31st January of the preceding year. 7. The costs incurred by the Committee shall be defrayed from the voted funds of the Ministry. The Committee, with the written approval of the Cabinet Secretary, may mobilize funds to defray its costs from any other lawful source including the private sector and development partners. 8. The contact point for the National Technical Barriers to Trade Committee shall be: The Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade, Teleposta Towers, P.O. Box 30430–00100, Nairobi. Submission of memoranda by members of public should be addressed to the Secretariat: Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, P.O. Box 54974-00200, Nairobi. Dated the 26th June, 2025. LEE KINYANJUI, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry.