Kenya’s rose exporters are gearing up for major changes in the European Union’s import regulations following a meeting held on Thursday, January 16th, 2025, at Argyle Grand Hotel. The meeting, organized by FPEAK in collaboration with TradeMark Africa and the EU-funded Business Environment and Export Enhancement Programme (BEEEP), focused on the upcoming EU rules set to take effect on April 26, 2025.
The EU’s new regulation, EU Regulation 2024/2004, mandates stricter controls on the False Codling Moth (FCM), a notorious pest that affects over 70 plant species, including roses. FCM has been classified as a quarantine pest by the EU, which will significantly impact Kenyan rose exports. To comply with these new requirements, stakeholders, including the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), have introduced the Rose False Codling Moth Systems Approach (Rose FCMSA) protocol.
The protocol, which will become mandatory for all exporters to the EU, aims to ensure that Kenyan rose exports meet the EU’s stringent pest control standards. This move is essential to maintaining Kenya’s position as a leading supplier of roses to the European market.
