State seeks applications for sugar import licences

The government has started registering sugar importers, five months after it cancelled existing licences following the influx of cheap sugar.

The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) has invited written applications from businesses wishing to be licensed as sugar importers in the coming year, starting January and ending in December.

This is a revision of the previous schedule that covered the government’s financial year of between July and June.

“All registered importers and anybody intending to be licensees should submit documents on or before January 16 for considerations,” KSB chief executive Rosemary M’kok said in a public notice.

Agriculture secretary Felix Koskei suspended the imports in July to curb over-supply of sugar that had choked the market for local millers. The sugar board has put in place stringent surveillance measures to check illegal importation of the commodity.

READ: Government suspends registration of sugar importers

Applicants have to provide a company profile, certificate of incorporation, articles and memorandum of association, current business permit, tax compliance certificate and VAT registration.

“Under the sugar imports and exports regulations of 2008, every person who intends to import sugar or its by-products has to provide the said requirements,” Ms M’Kok said.

This year, says the CEO, a total of 72 importers for direct consumption sugar and 52 for industrial manufacturers were registered by the regulator.

From March 1 to August when the licenses were cancelled, 154,722 metric tonnes of sugar were imported, with 74,358 metric tonnes coming from the Comesa block, while 80,364 metric tonnes were imported from non-Comesa countries.

Only after successful registration will the applicants apply for an import license for each specific shipment of sugar.

“We only issue an import license to the applicant on approval of the application and subject to conditions that may be imposed by the board,” said Ms M’kok in an interview.