Kenya stares at Sh100 billion sales ban to European Union
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei. Mr Koskei was emphatic that the 17 famine-stricken counties had enough food. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- The new regime has a provision of destroying of the export produce that does not meet the required standards.
- Kenya has been under the EU radar for three years after being subjected to 10 per cent rule for high residual levels and is fighting another battle after some mangoes were found to be infected by fruit fly.
Kenyan horticultural traders risk losing export licences over government failure to meet set standards by the European Union (EU).
The EU has given the country up to end of September to ensure all produce meant for the market meets the “required minimum residual levels” or lose the Sh100 billion market.
This means that produce should not contain more than 2 per cent of chemicals or herbicide sprayed on the crop.
Addressing exporters and officials of regulators that included Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services and Pest Control and Produce Board at at HCDA headquarters, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said the new regulations set to be gazetted will deal with the menace.
“Measures we are going to take are painful but necessary as we cannot let few exporters destroy the sector,” Mr Koskie added.
Breaching of this rule normally arises from either use of prohibited chemicals or not observing harvesting timelines once crops are sprayed.
The new regime has a provision of destroying of the export produce that does not meet the required standards.
The CS said some of the chemicals currently being used will be banned while action shall be taken against government officials found to be culpable in allowing exports that are rejected in the EU.
“We better have 10 companies exporting than 100 that do not comply. Thailand has done it and reduced the horticulture products exporting companies from 85 to 25,” Mr Kosgei said.
Kenya has been under the EU radar for three years after being subjected to 10 per cent rule for high residual levels and is fighting another battle after some mangoes were found to be infected by fruit fly.
“We have a serious problem. This is the third year we are dealing with this issue of minimum residual levels and we are now worse off. If we continue like this, we are going to be placed under 50 per cent rule. We have problems with mangoes and three other flowers and risk losing the market,” said Kephis managing director James Onsando.
He added; “The data records we have from EU show that from January to April, we had between 2 and 4 interventions. This increased to 5 interventions in May, and between June and July this further increased to 9. We are operating at 3.5 per cent (of total volume exports that breach MRLs). The recommendation is that we have a sustained 2 per cent and this is the official position.”
