The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has established a Kenya Standard specifying requirements and test methods for tea packets and containers used in the retail distribution of tea products. The standard applies to tea packaging formats such as tea bags, tea packets, instant tea packaging, and ready-to-drink tea containers, ensuring product safety, quality, and transparency for consumers. However, tea sacks used for bulk transport are excluded, as they are covered separately under KS ISO 9884-1.
The standard defines tea as a product derived exclusively from the leaves, buds, and tender stems of the plant species Camellia sinensis that are processed through acceptable manufacturing methods for beverage consumption. It also establishes definitions for packaging components including tea bags, tea packets, and cartons, specifying that these materials must be food-grade and suitable for their intended use.
To ensure alignment with food safety and consumer information regulations, the standard references several regional and national standards, including KS EAS 39, KS EAS 38, KS EAS 803, KS EAS 804, and KS EAS 805.
Under the labeling provisions, tea packaging must display key information such as the country of origin, manufacturing date, expiry date, batch or lot number, storage conditions, product name, brand name, and the name and physical address of the manufacturer or packer. Additional requirements include the net weight in grams or kilograms, product category (e.g., loose tea or tea bags), tea grade listed in descending order, and the number of tea bags in cartons containing tea bags.
The standard also establishes origin criteria for products claiming Kenyan origin. To qualify for such claims, tea blends must contain at least 90 percent Kenyan tea. Additional labeling details such as date of packaging, instructions for use, storage conditions, and traceability information must also be provided on the packaging.
The introduction of these requirements aims to standardize packaging practices, enhance traceability and consumer information, and support quality assurance across Kenya’s tea sector, which remains one of the country’s most important agricultural exports.