Consumers face health risks for using rejected products

Kenyans could be unknowingly exposing themselves to serious health risks by consuming fresh produce rejected by the European markets for containing harmful chemicals.

Consumer lobby groups have raised concerns that vegetables and fruits that are denied entry into the European market for failure to meet the set health standards are being repackaged and sold locally, eventually finding their way into the plates of Kenyans.

The European Union has heightened surveillance on fresh produce originating from Kenya after frequent tests showed that the products do not meet the set minimum residue levels.

About 11 companies have already been temporarily banned from exporting their produce.

While the government claims to have intensified surveillance to ensure farmers comply with international health standards, there is no clear system through which vegetables and fruits that fail to meet standards are destroyed.

RAISING A FINGER

Fears are that some unscrupulous traders could be repackaging and offloading the same products in local outlets for Kenyans to consume.

“The situation is worrying as the rejected foods are finding their way to the local market without anyone raising a finger. What is not ideal for the European market is not for the local market,” said Consumer Federation of Kenya secretary-general Stephen Mutoro.

“We are raising the red flag for consumers to be aware of the food they buy from the market.” Because of the stricter monitoring of these products, many exporting companies repeatedly find themselves stuck with rejected stocks.

Players who spoke to the Smart Company said a decision to destroy the produce could face legal hurdles since the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services was last year declared unable to conduct pesticide analysis. Currently, the pesticide analysis is carried out in Europe.

“We agreed on the destruction of rejected export products in November last year but this will not happen as chemical analysis on these products is done in Europe.

“We have been urging Kephis to invest in reclaiming its mandate to carry out these tests here but this has yet to happen. This is part of the frustration we have been facing,” said Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya chairman, Mr Stephen Mbithi.

DESTROYED IMMEDIATELY

The situation has put government authorities charged with ensuring compliance with safety standards in the spotlight for failing in their role.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei last month said the government had put in place a new requirement that all export produce that fails to meet the required standards is destroyed immediately.

The new rule, the minister said, was crafted after it was discovered that some traders were illegally exporting rejected produce through ‘partner’ companies or through other unrelated registered companies.

Mr Mbithi admitted that the level of pesticides in vegetables consumed locally is alarmingly high since there are no efforts whatsoever to enforce compliance or control the use of pesticides by farmers, most of whom lack the knowledge of health risks of using these chemicals.

“We have been pushing Kephis to take action on local produce that has even higher pesticide residue levels but nothing has come out of the effort. We hold that similar standards should be maintained, whether it is Europe or local market,” Mr Mbithi said.

According to a review report prepared by the European Union in November last year, the pre-export inspection officials at Kephis were under pressure due to huge volumes and spent only four minutes on a lot.

NOT DISCLOSED

Both Kephis and the Kenya Bureau of Standards refused to respond to questions about the likelihood of rejected products retailing in the local markets.

Kephis managing director James Onsando was recently sent on compulsory leave to pave the way for investigations on the increasing cases of non-compliant exports. 

The EU has given the country up to the end of September to ensure all produce meant for the market meets the required minimum residual levels for pesticides or face trade restrictions.

The decision means that about 6,000 farmers have to meet the set standards to be allowed to export to the European Union. The names of the 11 firms that were banned have not been disclosed.

Some exporters breach this requirement from either use of prohibited chemicals or not observing harvesting timelines once crops are sprayed.

The organisations charged with the responsibility of ensuring food safety are Horticultural Crops Development Authority, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services and Pest Control and Produce Board and Kenya Bureau of Standards.

EU warned last month on increased monitoring of fresh produce exports over failure to meet the pesticide minimum residual levels.

MONITOR THE MARKET

“The Food and Veterinary office of EU Health and Consumers Directorate-General has conducted three audits to your country in 2007, 2009, 2013.

Each of these found significant shortcomings, and despite the submissions of satisfactory action plans interceptions continue at a high level,” the EU said.

Last week, the EU provided a grant of Sh1.4 billion to enhance quality assessment in institutions dealing with certification of exports.

The Standards and Market Access Programme, under which the fund will be managed, will see Kephis, Kebs and veterinary services department share the money to step up their capacity to monitor the market.

“SMAP will strengthen Kenya’s regulatory framework and capacity for certification of animal and plant-based products,” Mr Koskei said at Serena Hotel, Nairobi when he signed the agreement.

Kebs will get Sh365 million, out of which Sh250 million will go to purchasing equipment for the testing laboratories and the rest will be used in training staff. Ongwae said the money would be released within a week and the tendering process was about to start.

The objective is to enhance quality and compliance of standards for exports and local food market by providing testing equipment and setting up monitoring systems.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation will educate farmers, processors and traders on sanitary, phytosanitary and commercial standards required.

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.