DRAFT KENYA STANDARD                          DKS 2858 : 2018  
 ICS 59.080.30     
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sisal Industry - Code of Practice  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
©KEBS 2018         First Edition  2018  
 
 
 
 DKS 2858 : 2018                                                                     
 
ii                      ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  
 
  
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
 
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
 
 
 
ICIPE - International Ce ntre of Insect Physiology and Ecology  
AFA - Agriculture and Food Authority  - Fibre Crops Directorate  
KIRDI  - Kenya Industrial Research And Development Institute  
KALRO – Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization  
Spin Knit Limited  
Spinners and S pinners Limited  
Egerton University  
Rivatex East Africa Limited  
Supra Textiles Limited  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
 
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed. Suggestions 
for improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Ken ya Bureau of Standards, 
are welcome.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© Ke nya Bureau of Standards, yyyy  
 
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130  of 2001  of the Laws of Kenya, copyright 
subsists in all Kenya Standards and exc ept as  provided under Section 25  of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of 
Standards may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in  writing 
from the Managing Director . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DRA FT KENYA STANDARD             DKS 2858 : 2018  
 ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  
           iii  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sisal Industry - Code of Practice  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS)  
 
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 DKS 2858 : 2018                                                                     
 
iv                      ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  
 
  
 
 
Foreword  
 
This Kenya Standard was prepared by the Blankets, non -wovens, threads and fibres  Technical Committee 
under the guidance of the Standards Projects Committee, and it is in accordance  with the procedures of the 
Kenya Bureau  of Standards . 
 
 
Sisal belongs to the Agave genus which consists of more than 250 species worldwide.  It is a drought 
tolerant crop that is an important source of hard fibre bringing in domestic and foreign revenue t o the 
economy. The fibre produced is often converted to various products such as rope, sacks, carpets and crafts.  
 
Sisal was introduced in Kenya from Tanganyika presently known as Tanzania in 1903.  Sisal production and 
processing along its value chain so on after became a commercially organized agricultural entity in the 
country.  It is therefore one of the longest surviving, yet viable, agriculturally based industries in the country 
suitable f or growing in semi -arid areas . The Country has a potential to p roduce 40,000 metric tonnes 
annually.    
 
This code of practice has been developed to guide the sector in order to increase sisal production efficiency 
and quality with view to maintain and enhance the country’s market share globally.  
 
 
During the prepara tion of this standard, reference was made to following document (s): 
 
Sisal Technical Handbook  
Crops Act No 16  
Production and Characterization of Kenyan Sisal. Asian Journal of Textile, 2: 17 -25. 
 
Acknowledgment is hereby made for assistance received from these source s. 
 
 
 KENYA STANDARD             DKS 2858 : 2018  
©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved                      1  
 
Sisal Industry - Code of Practice  
 
 
1 Scope  
 
The COP specifies requirements and recommendations based on good practices in carrying out production, 
sisal leaf processing, storage, inspection, sisal fibre processing, transportation and  marketing of s isal (see 
flow chart in annex 4 . 
 
It is applicable to all players across the sisal value chain including farmers, processors, sisal buyers, 
extension agents, researchers, regulators and consumers.  
 
2 Normative references  
 
The documents liste d below are regarded as being invaluable when referring to specific areas of the code of 
practice. It is important to note that in using any of the dated normative references, only the edition cited is 
relevant. For any undated normative reference, only th e latest edition, including any amendments, applies.  
 
It is, therefore, the responsibility of the user of this document to ensure that for each of normative references 
cited, only latest edition of the documents are used.  
 
2.1 The Crops Act No. 16   
2.2 The Occup ational Safety and Health Act  
2.3 Laws of Kenya; Seeds and Plant Varieties Act, CAP 326.  
2.4 Weights and Measures Act, CAP 513  
2.5 The Pest Control Products Act, CAP 346  
2.6 The Factories and Other Places of Work Act CAP 514.  
2.7  Environmental Management and Coordination Ac t 
2.8 Sisal Technical Handbook  
2.9 KS1829:  Labelling of products – general requirements  
2.10 KS 1388:  Methods of sampling for testing of textile fibres  
. 
3 Terms and definitions   
 
For the purposes of this code of practice, the following terms and definitions shall a pply:  
 
3.1 Authority  
The Agriculture and Food Authority as established under Section 3 of the Agriculture Fisheries and 
Food Authority Act, No. 13 of 2013. The statute law (miscellaneous amendments) No. 7 of 2016.  
 
3.2 Bogas  
Waste from processing of green  leaf using a decorticator . DKS 2858 : 2018  
            
                              ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  2      
3.3 Bulbil  
A small, vegetatively derived plant let produced on an inflorescence.  
 
3.4 Bulbil nursery material  
Planting m aterial obtained from nurseries  established using bulbils.  
 
3.5 Central spike  
Bud of immature leaves pa cked tightly around the meristem until they  unfurl .   
  
3.6 Chemical control of pests and diseases  
 Use of man -made products to regulate pests and diseases.  
 
3.7 Cultural control of pests and diseases  
Management of pest and diseases without use of chemical s, this may include;  destruction of crop 
residues, crop rotation and use of trap crops .  
      
3.8 Decorticator  
A machine for stripping off the skin ( bark) and the pulp to obtain fibres.   
 
3.9 Environment  
Physical factors of the surroundings of human bein gs including land, water, atmosphere, climate, 
sound, odour, taste, biological factors of animals and plants and the social factor of aesthetics and 
includes both the natural and the built surroundings.  
 
3.10 Export Permit  
Control document issued by the Au thority to ensure that sisal fibre exported by Marketing Agents 
comply with the provisions of Crops Act.  
 
3.11 Inspector  
Person gazetted under the provisions of Crops Act to  check sisal fibre to ensure compliance to the 
specified requirements.  
 
3.12 Leaf c utter  
Person who harvests sisal leaf.  
 
3.11 License  
Document issued by the Authority granting the holder to exercise certain privileges to deal in sisal, 
without which, would constitute an illegal act.  
 
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 3.12 Marketing Agent  
Person licensed by the Authori ty to trade in sisal fibre.  
 
3.13 Medium tilth  
Condition of tilled soil that forms a moderately compact and firm seedbed that  is neither cloddy 
 nor loose.  
 
3.14 Meristem  
Undifferentiated cells that are capable of dividing and differentiating into  special ized tissues such as 
 roots or shoots  
 
3.15 Meristematic tissue culture  
Culturing of apical or auxillary meristems in an artificial environment ( in vitro) to form sisal plantlets.  
 
3.16 Person  
Includes an individual, entity, company, association or any ot her incorporated body.  
 
3.17 Pole 
Flowering structure with an inflorescence containing flowers and bulbils formed  towards the end of 
the productive life of agaves as a result of the apical meristem, terminating the production of leaves.  
  
3.18 Seedling   
Young  plant.   
 
3.19 Spinner  
A person who converts sisal fibre into yarn (twisting together of drawn -out strands).  
 
 3.20 Tow 
     Coarse and broken fibre, removed during processing of sisal  DKS 2858 : 2018  
            
                              ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  4  
4 REQUIREMENTS  
 
4.1 Site Selection  
The site should be located in an area where cultivation is not restricted by any regulatory authority as per 
existing legislation(s). In this regard, the site should be suitable for sustainable sisal production in the 
following areas: - 
 
4.1.1   The specific pl anting site should not contain any residues of hazardous substances that are likely to  
be of environmental concern or posing health and safety risk.  
 
4.1.2   Where the planting site is located near or in the vicinity of an industry, or in any other high r isk area,  
a risk assessment shall be conducted by a regulatory authority to determine the suitability of the site. A risk  
assessment report shall be maintained.  
 
4.1.3  The basic requirements for growing sisal including temperature, altitude, rainfall, (a vailable  
moisture), well -draining soil, soil pH and nutrients should be suitable for sisal production as indicated in the  
Crops Act No.16 and Sisal Technical Handbook. All corresponding records shall be maintained.  
  
5      LAND PREPARATION  
 
5.1 Field O perations  
For optimum sisal production, the land should be appropriately prepared preferably one month before the 
expected time of rains or planting. Specifically, the activities listed below will be essential in contributing 
towards high yields of sisal.  
 
5.1.1   The selected land should be prepared, using machinery or manual implements, until medium tilth is  
attained (refer to the Sisal Technical Handbook).  
 
5.1.2   In conservation farming, where herbicides are applied, only those products  that have been  
recommended by Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) shall be used.  
 
5.1.3   In water logged areas, furrowing is recommended as an additional land preparation operation to    
drain excess water.  
 
5.1.4   In areas with scarce rainfall, tied ridging is recommend ed for soil moisture conservation.  
 
5.1.5     Where necessary, soil amendment, based on site assessment report, should be carried out to bring  
the site to its optimum production levels.  Record for site assessment report shall be maintained.  
 
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     5 
 6. PLANTING   
 
6.1  Planting Materials  
Sisal propagates asexually through suckers (rhizome offshoots) and bulbils and from plantlets developed in 
vitro from Meristematic Tissue Culture (MTC). Both suckers and bulbils are periodically collected for planting 
in nurseri es. Although sisal can be established directly from suckers, it is recommended to use bulbil nursery 
materials or planting material developed from meristematic tissue culture. Bulbils and in vitro plantlets on the 
other hand already possess a root system b ut must still be planted out in the nursery for hardening so that 
their survival rate in plantation sites is substantially improved. In establishing a nursery, the nursery bed 
preparation, manuring and fertilizer application, spacing and weed management sh all be undertaken in 
accordance to the Sisal Technical Handbook.  
 
Seedlings for planting should be obtained from varieties that are approved by the Seeds and Plant Varieties 
Act, Cap 326.  
 
6.1.1  Meristematic Tissue Culture   
 
In vitro, MTC plantlets const itute an alternative route for micro propagation.  They are developed from 
culturing of apical meristems located at the tip of the plant or auxillary meristems located at the axil of leaves.  
MTC involves promoting the development of already existing organ ized regions whose function is precisely 
to form new shoots.  Rooted plantlets are transferred into the greenhouse for acclimatization before being 
transferred into an open nursery for hardening.  
 
6.1.2  Bulbil Nursery Material  
 
6.1.2.1  Bulbils harvested fr om the oldest healthy sisal plants are first planted in a nursery bed for further 
nurturing before  being transplanted (re -planted) into the field site as young sisal plants.  
 
6.1.2.2  After being harvested (collected) from the old, healthy sisal plants and  before being planted into 
nurseries, bulbils are graded into equal sizes, treated with the recommended fungicides and insecticides.   
 
6.1.2.3  Once they are in the nursery, bulbils should be allowed to grow for a period of 12 -18 months to 
become young sis al plants.  After this period, the sisal plants will have hardened sufficiently and grown to a 
size that is adequate for planting out in the fields before the onset of the rains  
 
6.1.2.4  Before being planted out in the field they should be lifted and grade d according to size. This grading 
is done in order to ensure the crop matures uniformly and for efficient field management during the growth 
period. The sisal plants are placed in different batches of the same size range and thereafter transplanted 
into di fferent sections of the fields, based on size.  
 
 DKS 2858 : 2018  
            
                              ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  6 6.1.3  Suckers  
 
6.1.3.1  Sisal can be established from suckers. These are miniature plants that emerge from the rhizomes of 
the mother plant.  While they are faster in establishing sisal crop and readily av ailable, they are commonly 
attacked by pest and diseases, and the fields lack uniformity in plant size, if planted directly (by skipping the 
nursery stage).  Additionally, a crop established using suckers as planting material has a shorter production 
cycle . 
 
6.1.3.2  Records on the source and variety of planting materials shall be maintained.  
 
6.2 Field Establishment  
 
6.2.1   Before  transplanting into the field, the roots of the  planting materials (6.1.)  should be trimmed to 
encourage faster development of ne w roots and left in the sun for 2 -4 weeks to increase survival in the field.  
  
6.2.2   Before planting , the materials are dipped in fungicides and insecticides, recommended by PCPB, to 
prevent insect and fungal attack.  
 
6.2.3  Planting should be done using  manual implements and preferably 4 -6 weeks before onset of rains to 
enable sisal derive most benefits and take advantage of nitrogen flush.  
   
6.2.4  Plant spacing and depth shall be done in accordance with the Sisal Technical Handbook.  The 
spacing adopte d depends on whether the operations on the farm are mechanized or manual.  Where 
mechanized operations are used, wider spacing will be required depending on the management adopted. 
Records on date of planting, planting space and depth shall be maintained.  
 
6.2.4.1   When planting, remove the dry leaves surrounding the rooting base and plant in shallow holes where 
the roots of bulbil nursery material fits well.  The correct planting depth depends upon the size of the plant. 
Normally, 6 -8 cm is sufficient for plants that are 35 -40 cm tall.  
 
6.4.2.2  For large bulbil nursery material, it is recommended to tie the leaves together around the central 
spike for convenience during transportation and transplanting. It also allows the first weeding to be done with 
ease and thereafter, the strings are cut or left to disintegrate naturally.  
 
6.3  Fertilizer  
 
6.3.1  The choice of fertilizer and recommended application rates should be guided by soil test results  
6.3.2  Sisal waste in most cases can be used to supply organic phosphorus  to the crop.  
 
6.3.3  Farmers are encouraged to use a combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers to improve soil 
physical and biological properties.                         DKS 2858 : 2018  
 
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     7 
  
6.3.3  Record on type of fertilizer and application rates shall be maintained.  
 
6.4 Intercropping  
 
6.4.1  Depending on the rate of growth, sisal can be intercropped within the first 3 years with the 
recommended crops . This may offset the costs of establishment and maintenance of the sisal crop.  
 
6.4.2  Other benefits of intercropping include suppression of weeds  and provision of soil cover to reduce 
soil erosion. Further references can be made to Sisal Technical Handbook.  
 
6.4.3  Record on the type of intercrops shall be maintained.  
 
7 WEED CONTROL   
 
Weeding reduces competition for nutrients, water, sunlight with si sal plants, and to prevent pests and 
diseases present in alternate hosts. De -suckering is also done during weeding.  
 
7.1  Weeding is done by hand, mechanical, grazing or by use of herbicides. Weed control can also be 
done using cover crop during the first 3 years. The method used should not injure the crop or cause damage 
to the environment.  
 
7.2  Where herbicides are used, they should be approved by the regulatory authority (PCPB) and farmers 
should follow instructions of use.  
 
7.3       Records on start and  end dates, the method of weeding and type of herbicides used shall be 
maintained.  
 
8  PESTS AND DISEASE CONTROL  
 
After field establishment, the choice of pesticides and fungicides should be determined by the results of pest 
and disease scouting and as rec ommended in the Pest Control Products Act, CAP 346.  
 
8.1 Pests and disease control may be done using cultural and chemical methods.  
 
8.2 Where pesticides and fungicides are used, they shall be handled in a manner that ensures the safety 
of handlers and th e environment as guided by Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and EMCA.  
 
8.3        Records on pests and diseases incidences, as well as application dates for the pesticides and  
fungicides used shall be maintained.  DKS 2858 : 2018  
            
                              ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  8  
9 HARVESTING  
 
Harvesting of leaf should be done at most bi -annually per plant depending on variety and age.  
Harvesting during wet weather is not recommended due to challenges in transportation of leaf and drying of 
the fibre.  
 
9.1 Harvesting of mature leaves starts 2 -3 years after planti ng as it increases fibre yields.  Thereafter 
harvesting will continue for a period of 8 -15 years depending on variety. The general practice is to cut all 
leaves below those which point upwards at an angle of about 45 degrees.  For further information, refe r to 
Sisal Technical Handbook.  
 
9.1.1  During the initial harvesting, the lowest leaves  (sand leaves)  should be cut and discarded. Such 
leaves do not produce useful fibres and would be difficult to decorticate.   
 
9.1.2  Delaying the first cut, results in reductio n of fiber yield and early development of the pole which  
contributes to further losses in fibre production.   
 
9.1.3  Overcutting of the leaf should be avoided as it causes reduction in fiber content.  
 
9.1.4  During harvesting, leaves are cut and sorted by length and a rranged in 25 -27 leaves to make a leaf  
bundle.   
 
9.1.5  Extensively damaged leaves are discarded. It is a good agricultural practice to aggregate leaf  
bundles in batches of 100, with each batch forming a leaf metre weighing approximately 1 ton.  
  
9.1.6  Therea fter, the leaf metres are placed along collection points and transported for decortication.  
 
9.1.7  Records on number of harvested leaf metres, date of harvest and identification of leaf cutters 
involved shall be maintained.  
 
10 SISAL LEAF PROCESSING   
 
Sisal  leaf processing involves decortication, followed by drying, brushing, grading, baling and storage of 
fibre.    Only licensed sisal factory operators, including small and medium processors, shall deal in sisal leaf 
processing.  The license is issued by the  Authority.   
 
10.1  Decortication    
 
Decortication is the process of extracting the fibre from sisal leaf.  To maintain fibre quality and better 
recovery, decortication should be done within 24 hours after harvesting.                         DKS 2858 : 2018  
 
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     9 
  
There are two methods of decortica tion.  
 
10.1.1  Wet method  
The method entails introduction of water during sisal fibre extraction process using a decorticator,  Water is 
utilized for cleaning fiber and washing away byproducts. Normally, in wet decortication fibre is sorted into 
long and short fi bres.   
 
10.1.2  Dry method  
This method involves extraction of sisal without introduction of water using a mechanical or manual 
decorticators.  
  
10.1.2.1  For best practice, the fibre should immediately be washed after decortication to improve its quality. 
(For fu rther details on decortication refer to Sisal Technical Handbook. ) 
 
10.1.2.2  Records on tonnage decorticated, date of decortication and identification of the operators involved 
shall be maintained.  
 
10.1.3  The process of decortication also generates bogas (about 95.5-97.0% of leaf weight) as a byproduct  
and waste water.  Bogas can be used for various purposes such as renewable energy production, organic 
fertilizer and animal feed.  
  
10.1.4  Waste water may be treated and recycled for various purposes such as irrigation.   Bogas and waste  
water should be managed in compliance with EMCA Act.  
 
10.2  Drying  
  
10.2.1  After decortication, the fibre is separated into two groups of long and short with each group 
consisting of a range of lengths.  
 
10.2.2  Thereafter the fiber is spread over drying lines in respective groups. The fibre must be spread out in a 
such a way as to avoid kinking and staining.  
  
10.2.3  To preserve the quality of fibre ensure drying to an optimum moisture content of 10%. For sun -drying, 
this would take 6 -8 hours. Drying for longer hours lowers the quality of the fibre . 
 
10.2.4  Depending  on the scale of operation, the fibre is either sold locally or taken for brushing.  The local 
buyer aggregates the fibres and se lls to licensed marketing agent  or processor  for brushing and further 
processing.  
 DKS 2858 : 2018  
            
                              ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  10 10.2.5  Records on the moisture content before storage awaiting brushing shall be maintained.  
 
10.3 Brushing  
 
Brushing takes place after drying.  
  
10.3.1   The short and long fibres from the drying lines are separately fed man ually onto the brushing 
machine which consists of a brushing machine table and enclosed revolving metal beaters.   
 
10.3.2  Brushing removes tow and impurities.  It also straightens and frees individual fibres from each other.   
To reduce friction and loss of fibre, it is recommended that recommended  oil is applied on the table.  
 
10.3.3  Records on quantities of fibre before and after brushing for each batch, date and identification of the 
operators shall be maintained.  
 
10.4  Grading  
 
Grading is the separa tion of the brushed fiber into various categories which is done based on length and 
visual determination of color and level of impurities.  
 
10.4.1  Fibre length  being the predominant p arameter, is measured by the factory owner in compliance to 
the Crop Act , No. 16 using specifications set by the sisal growers associations from East Africa and the 
London Sisal Association. (For further details, refer to the Sisal Technical Handbook ) 
 
10.4.2   Records on sisal grades and respective quantities produced shall be  maintained.  
 
10.5  Sisal Baling  
 
Sisal baling is the process of pressing the sisal fibre into the prescribed weights and volume.   
 
10.5.1  The pressed fibre is secured using preferably natural materials such as sisal ropes. During pressing, 
each grade sh all be baled separately into standard weights of 100, 200, and 2 50 kilogram bales.  
10.5.2  Other bale weights can be considered depending on the consumer preference and subject to 
approval by the Authority.   
10.5.3  The weighing machines used should be cali brated in line with Weights and Measures Act.   
10.5.4  Records on calibration status , number of bales produced, weight per grade, identification  of the bale 
operator and date of baling shall be maintained.                         DKS 2858 : 2018  
 
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10.6 Labelling  
 
The bales shall be labelled  legibly and indelibly  in accordance to KS 1829 – Labelling Requirements and 
Sisal Technical Handbook with  the following information:  
 
10.6.1  product name,  
10.6.2  grade,  
10.6.3  trade mark of the producer,  
10.6.4  country of origin,  
10.6.5  bale number,  
10.6.6   date of production (baling) and  
10.6.7  bale net weight in kilograms.   
 
Note: The label should preferably be made from a natural fibre fabric.  Where ink is used for labelling, it should not penetrate to  the fibre 
to avoid contamination . 
  
10.7 Sto rage  
 
10.7.1  Storage of sisal should be carried out in a facility approved by the Authority. Storage area should be 
sufficient to store fibre awaiting brushing and for storage of bales waiting for transportation to the market.  
   
10.7.2  To preserve the qu ality of sisal fibre (color, moisture content, and physical fibre properties), the 
storage area should be:  
 
10.7.2.1    Dry and well ventilated.   
 
10.7.2.2  Fumigated before storage of the sisal fibre and proofed against rodents, water leakage and direct  
sunlight.  
 
10.7.2.3  Equippe d with a fire detection and fighting system in accordance with the OSHA and Factories and  
 Other Places of Work Act CAP 514.  
 
10.7.2. 4   Monitored at specified intervals (daily, weekly or monthly) to reduce risks of colour deterioration, 
rot, contamination  among others based on prevailing environment.  
 
10.7.3  The bales should be stacked on pallets and avoid direct contact with the walls.  
0.7.3.1  Stacking should be done in a manner that ensures stability of the bales and prevent any fall or 
collapse of the stacks.    
10.7.3.2  It should allow easy access for human and machinery and not to interfere with the lighting, 
ventilation and safety equipment in accordance with OSHA.  DKS 2858 : 2018  
            
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10.7.4  Bales of different grades should be stacked and stored separately to avoid mix up.  
 
10.7.5  Records on number of bales in the store, weight per grade, bale number, date of receipt and 
dispatch shall be maintained.  
 
11  INSPECTION FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE  
  
11.1 Inspection of sisal fibre shall take place at the owner’s premises before marketing.    
 
11.2 An authorized Inspector shall take samples in accordance with KS 1388.  Samples shall be tested to 
ensure conformity to grades as defined by East African Sisal Growers Association and the London Sisal 
Association.  
 
 11.3 The Inspector shall verify that  bales are labelled as per clause 10.6 on labelling ). The weight and 
moisture content are important parameters in sisal fibre trade and mus t be recorded during inspection in 
accordance to KS 124.  
 
11.4 An inspection report detailing all the above paramete rs and any important observation shall be 
maintained.  
  
12 MARKETING OF SISAL FIBRE   
 
Over 80% of the sisal fibre produced in Kenya is exp orted, while the remaining 20% Unwashed Hand 
Decorticated Sisal ( UHDS), produced by smallholders is processed in the cordage and cottag e industries to 
make products for both local and export markets.  
 
12.1 Marketing of sisal fibre is influenced by quality levels, global stocks and source (country) which 
directly impacts the price.  In addition, sisal fibre prices may be affected by the cost of other fibres and the 
fluctuation of exchange rate.  
 
12.2 Marketing Agents shall be licensed annually by the Authority prior to dealing in sisal fibre marketing.  
Where consignments are destined for export, the licensed marketing ag ent shall apply for export permit of 
every consignment, from the Authority, using  approved  system s. 
 
12.3 The price of sisal fibre is based on information provided by the Authority, guided by the prevailing 
global market price and contracts between buyers and sellers to ensure transparency in compliance with the 
Crops Act 2013.  
                        DKS 2858 : 2018  
 
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     13 
 13 FINISHED SISAL PRODUCTS  
 
Sisal fibre is converted into various finished products mainly through the process of spinning, weaving and/or 
colouring.    
 
13. 1  Spinning, Weaving an d Colouring  
 
13.1.1  Spinning involves the continuous conversion of sisal fibre into sisal yarns, twines ropes and fabrics 
by the Spinner for value addition.  Spinners shall be licensed annually by the Authority prior to dealing in 
sisal fibre processing in to sisal products.   
 
13.1.2  During the weaving process, yarns are converted into fabrics by interlacing yarns using various 
methods including power looms, hand looms as well as hand weaving.  Sisal fabrics or strands are 
processed into various finished si sal products.   
 
13.1.3  To add value, yarns, twines and fabrics are dyed or printed by the processor using manual or 
mechanical means. The dyes used should not be harmful to the users and the environ ment in accordance 
with EMCA.   
 
13.1.4  The finished prod ucts must comply with the respective national standard specifications. (See Annex 
3) List of applicable product standards).  
  
13.1.5  Record of manufactured products detailing product type, weight, number, square meters, running 
meters as case may be shall  be maintained.  
 
13.2  Finished Products Storage  
 
13.2.1  To preserve the quality of finished sisal products, the storage area should be:  
13.2.1.1  Dry and well ventilated.   
13.2.1.2  Fumigated  and proofed against rodents, water leakage and direct sunlight.  
13.2.1. 3 Equip ped with a fire detection and fighting system in accordance with the OSHA and Factories and 
Other Places of Work Act CAP 514.  
13.2.1.4    Monitored at specified intervals (daily, weekly or monthly) to reduce risks of rot and contamination  
among others based on prev ailing environment.  
 
13.2.2  Finished products may be baled or bundled and stacked on pallets in such a way as to avoid direct  
contact with the walls.  
   
13.2.3  Stacking shall be done in a manner that prevents any fall or collapse of the stacks and allow easy  
access fo r workers and machinery.  The stacks should not interfere with lighting, ventilation and safety 
equipment in accordance with OSHA.  DKS 2858 : 2018  
            
                              ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  14  
13.2.4  Different finished sisal product categories should be stacked and stored separately to avoid mix up.  
 
13.2.5  Records on number of bales in the store, weight per grade, bale number, date of receipt and 
dispatch shall be maintained.  
 
13.3 Marketing of Finished Sisal Products  
 
13.3.1  Market access for finished sisal products can be improved through advertising and merchand ising.   
 
13.3.2  Records shall be maintained on marketed finished products detailing category, quantity, price and 
market destination.  
 
Note :2 To remain competitive, continuous research on product development for innovation and patenting is encouraged.   
 
 
14 TRANSPORTATION  
 
This mainly involves movement of sisal bales and finished products from the owner premises to the market.  
 
14.1 To preserve quality, the transportation vessel should meet the following conditions in accordance 
with the Crops Act: - 
 
14.1.1  Clean and free from contaminants.  
 
14.1.2  Properly secured to prevent spillage.  
 
14.1.3`  Dry and well covered to prevent secondary contamination.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
                        DKS 2858 : 2018  
 
©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved          
     15 
 Annex  1  
(normative)  
 
LIST OF APPLICABLE KENYA STANDARDS (KEBS)   
 
Note that this list is not exha ustive and only includes some of the most commonly used standards   
 
A1 KS ISO 1181 Fibre ropes - Manila and sisal - 3-, 4- and 8 -strand ropes.  
A2 KS 274 Sisal agricultur al baler twines - Specification .  
A3 KS 642 Sisal  packing twines - Specification .  
A4 KS 779 -2 Specification for carpets - Part 2: Sisal carpets.  
A5 KS 748 -1 Specification for coffee drying cloth - Part 1: Sisal cloth.  
A6 KS 1124 Specification for sisal polishing cloth . 
A7 KS 519 Specification for sisal ropes . 
A8 KS 273 Specification for woven bags (100 per cent) for clean coffee beans /Woven  Fabrics .  
A9 KS 944 -1 Specification for woven bags (100% sisal) for green tea leaves. Part 1:  Three -dimensional 
 type.  
A10 KS 944 -2 Specification for woven bags (100% sisal) for green tea leaves Par t 2:  Two-dimensional 
 type.  
A11 KS 544 Specification for woven bags (natural fibre) for rice.  
A12 KS 134 Specification for woven bags (natural fibres) for sugar . 
A13 KS EAS 221 Woven bags (100 % sisal) for clean coffee beans – Specification . 
A14 KS EAS 156-3: Woven bags from natural fibres - Specification - Part 3: Woven bags for sugar.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DKS 2858 : 2018  
            
                              ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  16 Annex  2 
 
(Informative)  
 
LIST OF RECORDS  
 
 
B1 A risk assessment report on suitability of production site. (Clause 4.1(ii)  
B2 Site assessment report ( Clause 4.1(iii) and 5.1(v),  
B3  Planting records (6.1., 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4).  
B4 Weed, pest and disease control records. (Clause 7.0 and 8.0)  
B5 Harvesting record. (Clause 9.0)  
B6 Decortication, drying and brushing records (Clause 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3).  
B7 Grading and baling records (Clause 10.4 and 10.5).  
B8       Storage and dispatch records (Clause 10.7).  
B9       Inspection report (Clause 11.0).  
B10 Product type, quantity and specifications record ( Clause 13.1)  
B11 Stock and marketing records (13.2 and 13. 3) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                        DKS 2858 : 2018  
 
©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved          
     17 
 Annex C  
(Normative)  
 
  
Figure 1 . Flowchart on the Main Steps i n Sisal Value Chain  LAND PREPARATION  
PEST AND DISEASE 
CONTROL  
HARVESTING  
END  START   
SISAL LEAF 
PROCESSING 
AND 
MARKETING  
See figure 2  
 PLANTING  
WEEDING  DKS 2858 : 2018  
            
                              ©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved  18  
 
Figure 2:   Flowchart on Leaf Processing a nd Marketing  Local  Internationa
l Marketing Agent  Cottage 
industry  
Spinner  Spinner  Commercial  Small holder  Drying  
Type of 
produce r 
Aggregation  
Type of 
buyer  
 Brushing  
Grading  
Baling  
Storage  
Type of 
market  
 
Validation  Brushing  
Spinning and 
weaving  Local marketing  
Type of 
buyer  
 
    Cottage industry  
Handcrafting  
Marketing  Decortication   
End                        DKS 2858 : 2018  
 
©KEBS 2018  — All rights reserved          
     19 
  
Bibliography  
 
[1] Lock, G.W. (1969 ). Sisal  
[2] Common Fund for Commodities (2004). Technical Paper No. 38, Manual for the in Vitro  
[3] Culture of Agaves