Nairobi: 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 Mutahi Kagwe and EU Ambassador to Kenya, Ms. Henriette Geiger, held at Kilimo House.
According to Kenya News Agency, 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. 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, the CS warned against what he termed 'shifting goal posts' 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," he 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 flower 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 good results. KEPHIS reported a drastic reduction in flower interceptions at EU borders, with none recorded last month and only one this month. "We began implementing the Force Code Removal System Approach Protocol in January of this year, and since we started the implementation of that protocol, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of cases, which has strengthened Kenya's phytosanitary compliance and protected a vital export sector," KEPHIS CEO Prof. Theophilus Mutui said.
Despite the progress, exporters have raised concerns over the current 25 percent sampling rate for flower consignments, arguing that it is too high, and Prof. Mutui urged the EU to consider reducing this to between five and 10 percent 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.
The discussions also touched on pesticide regulations, with KEPHIS requesting what alternatives Kenyan farmers have when the EU bans certain chemical products. In response, 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 also underscored Kenya's commitment to meeting international benchmarks while advocating for fair and stable trade practices that do not unduly burden farmers.