The stakeholder meeting on the Implementation of Sea Vessel Container Inspection and Phytosanitary Compliance Charges commenced at Bandari Maritime College in Mombasa on December 10, 2024. A follow-up meeting took place on February 19, 2025.
The initiative focuses on inspecting sea containers and vessels to ensure they adhere to stringent cleanliness and phytosanitary standards before entering or leaving ports, effectively preventing the introduction and spread of pests and diseases that could harm Kenya’s agricultural sector.
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service: KEPHIS invited Key stakeholders and representatives from regulatory authorities, the shipping industry, container depot operators, and government agencies. KEPHIS Board Chairman Hon. Joseph M’Eruaki, Managing Director Prof. Theophilus Mutui, and other KEPHIS team were present.
The discussions aimed to enhance the protocols further and establish structured charges essential for maintaining agricultural health and ensuring compliance with International Plant Protection standards under IPPC regulations. These protocols are scheduled to be implemented seamlessly starting March 1, 2025.
This latest stakeholder meeting focused on refining container and vessel cleaning processes and implementing associated charges. Chairman M’Eruaki emphasized the urgent need to adopt these processes to protect Kenya’s agriculture, while Prof. Mutui highlighted the critical role of compliance in maintaining Kenya’s agricultural integrity and international trade reputation.
These meetings are crucial as they align with KEPHIS’s mandate to regulate Plant Health and ensure compliance with national and international phytosanitary standards, which are fundamental for preserving the integrity of agricultural inputs and produce. Establishing rigorous inspection and cleaning standards, KEPHIS aims to mitigate biosecurity risks associated with international trade, thus protecting Kenya’s agricultural exports from pest invasions and fostering sustainable trade practices.
The ongoing commitment of all stakeholders to uphold Kenya’s stringent biosecurity measures is a unified effort to enhance the nation’s agricultural ecosystem and maintain its global trade stature.
Source: KEPHIS
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