𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗘𝗨 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀; 𝗙𝗖𝗠 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Kenya has been classified as a low-risk country under the European Union’s new deforestation regulations, offering a significant reprieve for local exporters concerned about emerging compliance costs. The reassurance came during a high-level meeting between Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi Kagwe and EU Ambassador to Kenya, Ms. Henriette Geiger, held at Kilimo House.

The meeting, which brought together top officials from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and the Agriculture and Food Authority’s Coffee Directorate, centered on strengthening agricultural trade ties and addressing challenges posed by evolving EU regulations.

CS Kagwe welcomed the EU’s recognition of Kenya’s environmental efforts, noting that the country’s tree cover is steadily increasing, bolstered by the expansion of crops such as avocado and coffee, which contribute to reforestation. However, he warned against what he termed "shifting goalposts" that could jeopardize Kenya’s competitiveness in the European market.

“If you must shift the goalpost, provide support. These regulations increase the cost of production for Kenyan farmers,” Kagwe said, referencing the recent introduction of the deforestation law shortly after Kenya had successfully implemented the False Codling Moth (FCM) Systems Approach Protocol for rose flowers exports.

Ambassador Geiger moved to allay fears, assuring the Cabinet Secretary that Kenya is considered low risk and will not face a stringent assessment under the new EU rules. She further indicated that the EU will continue to consult its partner nations to evaluate the real-world impact of such regulations.

On the issue of FCM, the meeting heard that Kenya’s efforts to control the pest are yielding strong results. KEPHIS reported a drastic reduction in flower interceptions at EU borders, with none recorded last month and only one this month. This success follows the implementation of the Systems Approach Protocol, which has strengthened Kenya’s phytosanitary compliance and protected a vital export sector.

Despite the progress, exporters have raised concerns over the current 25% sampling rate for flower consignments, arguing that it is too high. KEPHIS has urged the EU to consider reducing this to between 5% and 10%, and called for the deployment of more inspectors to facilitate smoother export processes. Kenya exports more than 60 million stems of cut roses daily to the EU and UK, making efficiency in the value chain critical.

Discussions also touched on pesticide regulations, with KEPHIS requesting what alternatives Kenyan farmers have when EU bans certain chemical products. In response, CS Kagwe said the government is actively promoting the pyrethrum industry as a sustainable and organic alternative, aligned with both local priorities and global environmental standards.

Beyond trade protocols and regulation, the CS outlined Kenya’s broader agricultural agenda, which focuses on food sustainability and independence, import substitution for key commodities like rice, wheat, edible oils, and animal feeds, and ensuring that donor funding is put to effective use.

The Coffee Directorate, on its part, shared ongoing efforts to geo-map coffee farms across the country, a move aimed at enhancing traceability and aligning Kenyan coffee with international compliance standards.

The meeting underscored Kenya’s commitment to meeting international benchmarks while advocating for fair and stable trade practices that do not unduly burden its farmers.