Nairobi, March 25, 2025 – The Kenyan government has taken decisive steps to avert a potential disruption in the country’s lucrative flower exports to the European Union (EU) following the enactment of new stringent phytosanitary regulations.
The EU’s Regulation 2004/2024, set to take effect on April 26, 2025, introduces stricter measures to curb the spread of False Codling Moth (FCM), a pest prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. The regulation could significantly impact Kenya’s floriculture industry, which accounted for the largest share of horticultural exports in 2024, with 102,475.80 tonnes of flowers valued at Ksh 72.1 billion.
Concerns over FCM have led to increased scrutiny of fresh cut roses, with EU authorities reporting 95 rejections and 48 interceptions of Kenyan flower consignments in 2024, affecting 2.1 million stems valued at approximately 1.05 million euros. This has raised alarms within the industry, prompting the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to adopt urgent measures to ensure full compliance with EU standards.
Kenya’s Strategy for Compliance
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, has announced a zero-tolerance policy towards FCM, emphasizing the government’s commitment to maintaining Kenya’s foothold in the EU market. The country has opted to implement the Systems Approach, one of the four options permitted by the EU for managing FCM risks.
“Our compliance will be at 100%, and our produce will meet the highest quality standards, ensuring that no FCM is ever detected in our flowers again,” Kagwe assured in a statement.
To achieve this, the ministry has rolled out several key interventions:
- .Submission of the FCM Systems Approach Protocol to the EU, detailing Kenya’s pest control measures.
- .Provision of evidence proving the effectiveness of these systems in production sites.
- .Approval and registration of 134 production sites, each assigned a traceability code to ensure conformity.
- .Implementation of FCM management strategies in collaboration with key regulatory bodies, including KEPHIS, KALRO, PCPB, and AFA.
- .Intensive training for sector stakeholders, with 475 agro attendants and over 849 personnel trained to adhere to the new regulatory framework.
- .Registration of pest control products by the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) to facilitate better pest management.
Industry Impact and Future Prospects
Kenya’s floriculture sector is a critical driver of the economy, providing some 500,000 jobs , supporting three million households and generating substantial foreign exchange earnings. With the EU being a key export market, failure to meet the new regulatory requirements could have severe economic repercussions.
Industry players have welcomed the government’s proactive approach but stress the need for continuous monitoring and support to ensure seamless compliance. The Kenya Flower Council (KFC) has called for enhanced coordination between regulators and flower producers to mitigate any potential trade barriers.
As the April 2025 deadline approaches, stakeholders remain hopeful that Kenya’s robust response will safeguard its position as one of the world’s top exporters of fresh cut roses. With government backing and industry collaboration, the country aims to maintain its reputation for high-quality flowers while meeting the EU’s stringent phytosanitary standards.
By Catherine Riungu/ catherine@hortinews.co.ke
