- The ship partially sunk for over 24 hours outside the Kilindini channel.
- Mitchell Cotts has also dismissed claims that the alleged 780.2 metric tonnes of contaminated sugar stored at the station was released to the local market.
Image: HANDOUT
The taxman has agreed to test samples of a consignment of sugar that had been detained over safety issues.
The Kenya Revenue Authority manager in charge of marine and enforcement wrote to the logistics company handling the cargo agreeing to the request for tests of the sugar.
“We have reviewed your application and wish to inform you that under Section 136 of the East Africa Community Customs Management Act, 2004, permission to take samples has been granted subject to the following conditions,” said part of a letter to the company dated February 26.
The conditions say the results of the laboratory tests shall be shared with KRA (through the Chief Manager, CFS) and that the drawing of samples shall be supervised jointly by both Customs Verification Officers and Enforcement Officers.
Further, all samples taken shall be entered in the sample collection form which shall be witnessed by all parties involved in the sampling exercise.
Elavol Logistics Limited had on February 23 written to KRA requesting to be allowed to take samples from their stock of imported goods currently lying at Mitchell Cotts Freight CFS.
The purpose of collecting the samples is to enable laboratory testing of the same. Elavol Logistics Limited requested KRA to grant authorization for the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to collect samples for testing and further analysis.
The samples are to be taken from the 19,441 bags of sugar originating from the MSC Eagle.
“The sampling procedure will be conducted at the Mitchell Cotts CFS (MCF) Warehouse in Kibarani, where the aforementioned brown sugar is currently stored.”
"Our intention in this request is to accurately assess the quality and status of the sugar in question,” said part of the letter to KRA.
It added the step is crucial in facilitating a thorough and conclusive resolution to the matter. The shipment of brown cane sugar was loaded onto the MSC EAGLE from Mauritius.
The Mauritius Sugar Syndicate (MSS), based on the consignee's instructions, nominated Mitchell Cotts Kibarani through the MSC Shipping Line as the recipient of the sugar shipment.
“Regrettably, the subject vessel encountered an incident near Mombasa, necessitating a salvage operation to segregate the sugar deemed salvageable from that deemed unfit for direct human consumption.”
It is important to note that water did not penetrate/permeate all hatches and therefore part of the cargo is considered to be sound,” Mauritius Sugar Syndicate, the company exporting the sugar said in a statement.
As per the insurance preliminary survey report, 28 out of the 46 containers do not appear to have been affected by the seawater ingress into the vessel while the remaining 18 containers which had been immersed, should be disposed of as their content is considered to be no longer fit for human consumption, it added.
It said no compensation has been disbursed to any party at this stage while the insurers have advised, quote "they will not accept an abandonment of the containers to them if MSS attempt to abandon them to MSC.
“Without an inspection of the cargo, it will also be very difficult to assess whether a total loss of the cargo exists or not.”
The company said no sugar has been released to the public pending the receipt of test reports from Kenyan Authorities to ascertain the quality of the sugar and determine the appropriate course of action, including disposal and destruction measures.
Mitchell Cotts Container Freight Station (CFS) in Mombasa has also dismissed claims that the alleged 780.2 metric tonnes of contaminated sugar stored at the station was released to the local market.
Mitchell Cotts CFS director in charge of operations James Rariaya said samples have been taken for laboratory and quality assurance testing by KEBS and that no sugar has been released for consumption.
The contaminated sugar is part of the consignment that arrived in Mombasa from Mauritius on October 9, 2023.
The ship reportedly partially sunk for over 24 hours outside the Kilindini channel.