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PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES APPLIED ON ORGANIC EXPORTS
- Import permit : The exporter should get an import permit detailing phytosanitary requirements from the importing country.
- Issuance of phytosanitary certificate :
Phytosanitary certification is done to ensure that all exported Plant
and and Plant products are in conformity with the requirement of the
importing country. Inspection and other related activities leading to
issuance of phytosanitary certificates are carried out y KEPHIS plant
inspectors.
- Active growth inspections of plants destined for export
KEPHIS Plant inspectors normally visit commercial growers and farmers
of various agricultural and horticultural crops during the active
growing period. They ensure compliance with the phytosanitary
requirements of the importing country on freedom from certain diseases
or pests during the growing period and compliance to safe use of
pesticides.
- Inspection at exit/entry points
KEPHIS undertakes inspection of the plants and plant products at the
points of entry/exit. Inspection of all material for export is done to
ensure compliance to the recommended quality standards. It may be
visual, microscopic or a combination of both on plants/plant products
at airports, seaports, mail and border posts. Usually samples are
inspected according to the type and volume of the commodity. Inspection
levels are determined by the assessed risk of the commodity.
When inspecting at the exit/entry points, the following standard are checked:
- Freedom from pests/pest damage
- Freedom from diseases/disease damage
- Maximum Residue Levels compliance
- Has no physiological disorders
- Properly graded (size, color, shape etc.)
- Has no excessive moisture
- Whole (No mechanical damage)
- Packaging (clearly labelled, clean and well ventilated)
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL ORGANISMS
Importation
of biological control agent of any nature is first vetted by the Kenya
Standing Technical Committee for Imports and Exports (KSTCIE) chaired
by the Director of Agriculture. KEPHIS Managing Director is the
secretary of the committee. Plant inspectors from KEPHIS inspect the
containment premises of biological control organisms and ensure strict
adherence to import conditions as specified by KSTCIE.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs)
Application
of importation of genetically modified organism (GMOs), are considered
by Kenya National Biosafety Committee (NBC) which draws experts from
National Council of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture,
KEPHIS, local universities, environmental pressure groups, local and
international research institutes. KEPHIS enforces the regulations and
guidelines for safety in biotechnology as stipulated by the NBC.
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