Agency turns to techies in war against counterfeit goods

{Government invites bids to come up with a handheld gadget that will be able to detect fake goods.}

The government has invited software and hardware developers to devise a handheld gadget that can detect famous brands’ imitations currently on sale in Kenya.

The Anti-counterfeit Agency (ACA), in a public notice in the press said it intended to crisscross the country fighting fakes, which have denied genuine brands their niche market.

ACA said it was also looking to developers to formulate a mobile-based web application compatible with android phones, which would enhance on-the-spot detection of fakes.

BRAND IMITATIONS

The move follows proliferation in the market of imitations of famous brands, which Kenyans are unable to differentiate from the real products, leading to reduced sales of the genuine products.

The authority’s countrywide tours discovered that nearly all costly and non-food fast moving items had imitations, which they were only able to detect with assistance from makers of the real products.

In an unprecedented shop-by-shop inspection in Nakuru, ACA officers discovered that premium shops selling branded shoes offered imitations of Adidas, Nike, Puma and Caterpillar, among other global brands.

Acting executive John Akoten said the new device would help ongoing measures where ACA field officers cooperate with local and foreign manufacturers to detect fake products.

This is a costly and slow affair, which has forced ACA to float the tender that will see bids opened at the authority’s boardroom on May 27.

{{POSE RISKS}}

Local manufacturers have blamed unscrupulous businesspeople who source imitations from East Asian factories and sell them locally as genuine products at exorbitant products.

Dr Akoten said these items pose risks of fire or have a short life as they are not made to the set Kenyan standards.

Kenya Bureau of Standards Managing Director Charles Ongwae noted that the items do not conform to local climatic conditions and wear out fast since some of them are made for cold climates.