FILE PHOTO | NMG
Kenya is staring at a 40 percent reduction in horticulture exports to Australia after failing to comply with the zero-pest tolerance requirement.
Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) of Kenya said this was mostly due to non-compliance with some of the post-harvest treatment demanded by Australia.
“Our compliance rate as of April was at 48 percent but is supposed to be at below 10 percent because Kephis has been unable to approve some of the post-harvest treatment that Australia had given to us,” said FPC chief executive Ojepat Okisegere.
In October, Australia tightened rules on export of Kenyan roses, saying it would only accept the flowers if they comply with the zero-pest rule.
The EU had set a deadline of September 2014 for Kenya to cut the residue chemicals in exports, to comply with the EU’s guidelines, or risk sanctions on exports of cut flowers, fruit and vegetables.
