International exchange of germplasm and trade/movement of plants and plant products is crucial in the quest for adequate food production and supply. There being need to ensure that foreign injurious pests, diseases and noxious weeds which do not exist in Kenya are not introduced in the country, Kenya has a very stringent plant introduction and certification procedures.

INTRODUCTION

International exchange of germplasm and trade/movement of plants and plant products is crucial in the quest for adequate food production and supply. There being need to ensure that foreign injurious pests, diseases and noxious weeds which do not exist in Kenya are not introduced in the country, Kenya has a very stringent plant introduction and certification procedures since 1930's when the plant quarantine services were started in East Africa. Initially Plant quarantine services were conducted under the Ministry of Agriculture. In 1996, a state corporation (Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, KEPHIS) was established to vigilant for the Government, business sector, scientists and farmers on all matters related to plant health and quality control of agricultural inputs and produce. Through the activities of KEPHIS, the introduction of plant pests, diseases and noxious weed into Kenya is prevented or delayed. All phyosanitary measures are based on international standards as in International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations and guidelines. The Plant Protection Act (CAP 324), the suppression of Noxious weeks (Cap 325) and the Agricultural produce (Export) Act (Cap 319) provide the legal framework through which the authority carries out phytosanitary regulation service.

Plant protection services ensure that foreign injurious pests, diseases and noxious weeds which are no existent in Kenya are not introduced or spread when importing plant material into the country.