Esther Kimani (PhD)
GENERAL MANAGER-PHYTOSANITARY SERVICES
KENYA PLANT HEALTH INSPECTORATE
SERVICE
(KEPHIS)
Website: www.kephis.org
Email: ekimani@kephis.org
Presentation made at the International Flower Focus on Sustainability for Growth.
Visha Oshwal Centre. 6th June, 2013, Nairobi, Kenya
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Introduction
WTO-SPS Agreement
KEPHIS
KEPHIS Services
Challenges
Opportunities
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The Kenyan Vision 2030 aims to achieve 10%
economic growth rate
Agriculture recognized as a fundamental driver of
growth
Tea and horticulture rank as the highest foreign
exchange earners for the country
To be competitive, High quality agro inputs and
produce
Standards provide guidelines for
quality assurance
SPS requirements are some of the
standards that affect agricultural trade
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
AGRICULTURE
OIE
SPS
IPPC
TBT
CODEX
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Measures are designed to protect:
◦ Human/ animal life from risks arising from
additives, contaminants, toxins, or disease causing
organisms in food/feed
◦ Human life from diseases carried by plants and
animals
◦ Animals and plant life from pests, diseases or
disease causing organisms
Measures aim at preventing introduction and spread
of pests and diseases
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Consumers more aware on foodsafety issues
Man has carried many worlds’ most serious
Pests across deserts and oceans. The role of man
as a dispesal agent was recognized after
experiencing serious disasters.
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Some of the notable examples in plant include
the following:
1845- Phytopthora infestans (late blight) on Irish
potato from South America to Europe
1869-Hemileia vastatrix (coffee leaf rust) from
Africa to Sri Lanka
1983- Prostephanus truncates (Lager grain borer)
from South America to East Africa through
maize imports
1989- Eichhornia crassipes (Water hyacinth) from
South America.
1990- Cypress aphid
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Department of Veterinary Service (DVS)
Ministry of Health and Sanitation (Public
Health)/ KEBS
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service
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KEPHIS is Kenya’s National Plant Protection
Organization (NPPO)
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A state corporation under MoA
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Established under the State Corporations Act (Cap
446)
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Commenced operations in Nov. 1997
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Regulates agricultural sector through the application
/ enforcement of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)
measures among others duties
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The Mandate of KEPHIS
Plant Variety Protection
Seed Certification
Phytosanitary Services /quarantine
Quality Assurance – Ag Inputs
Regulation on GMOs/ biologicals ACL – Soil, Tissues, Water, MRLs
Certification of produce
Inspection & Grading
“Sustaining and Safeguarding Agriculture, Food,
Environment and Trade”
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International treaties/ conventions to which Kenya
is a signatory that guide KEPHIS activities include:
◦ The Union for the Protection of New Plant
Varieties of Plants (UPOV)
◦ The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)
◦ Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) Seed Schemes.
◦ FAO- International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC)
◦ CBD- Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety (CPD)
◦ FAO / WHO- Codex Alimentarius Commission
◦ WTO - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement
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The National legislations that provide the authority for
KEPHIS operations includes but not limited to:
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Cap 324- The Plant Protection Act
Cap 325- The Suppression of Noxious Weeds Act
Cap 326- The Seeds and Plant Varieties Act
Cap 319- The Agriculture Produce (Export) Act
Others (The Fertilizer and Animal Foodstuffs Act,
Cap 345 and The Pest Control Products Act, Cap
346)
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KEPHIS OFFICES
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Participate in trade negotiations for Market Access
Provide information and conduct pest risk
analysis
Laboratory services for testing commodities for
compliance to phytosanitary and food safety
requirements
Inspections for quality standards
Facilitate access to quality agro inputs
Undertake surveillance and provide early
warning services
Import inspections and export certification
Chemical Analytical Support
•Quality
fertilizers/ pesticides
•Pesticide residues on produce
•Environmental testing
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The Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (ACL)
is accredited to ISO- 17025 by SANAS
Seed Certification
•Use of Quality seed
maximize crop productivity
1) Imported seed
2) locally produced seed
 Seed Testing Laboratory is
Accredited (ISO 17025) by
the International Seed
Testing Association (ISTA)
Variety Testing: Evaluation maize variety
Variety Testing: Evaluation Sunflower variety
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Aim to protect
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Plant protection/quarantine services
agriculture/environment
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Plant clinics/ diagnostic labs
through prevention of
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Oversight of National Biosafety
regulations
introduction and or spread
of quarantine pests,
diseases and noxious weeds
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Phytosanitary inspection & certification
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Border control
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Gather and Analyse Pest Risk Analysis
(PRA) information
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Collaborate with KWS to facilitate
exchange of CITES plant materials
Flower grading
KEPHIS inspection
critical here for market
access and
sustainability
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Production Facility inspection
Use of check lists
and specific crop /
pest protocols for
effective on-farm
inspections- more
critical for
propagation
materials
Pest Detection
•Prompt detection of
Quarantine Pests at
actively growing stage
•Enabling a flourishing
export
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Plants and plants
products for all
purposes (inc. flowers)
Storage facilities
Packaging material
Conveyances and
transport facilities
Soil organic fertilizer
and related materials
Travellers personal
effects
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Organisms capable of
harboring or spreading
pests
Potential
contaminated
equipment
Research materials
International mail and
courier services
Pest and biological
control organisms
These are in 3 categories
1. Imports that are permitted
Risk of importation is low and permits are issued after
fulfilling application requirements.
2. Imports under quarantine
Risk of importation in high and material is held under
examination until risk assessment can be done.
3. Imports that are prohibited
These are materials that are too risky to introduce into
the country. Materials may be imported after
approval by KSTCIE
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Plant import procedures
◦ Apply for Plant Import Permit (PIP) from KEPHIS
(details import conditions)
◦ And notice to import seed (Form SR14) for seed
◦ NPPO of the country of origin issue
Phytosanitary Cert. based on conditions in PIP
◦ All plant materials declared at point of entry
◦ Prohibited/non compliant material destroyed or
shipped back
◦ It is an offence not to comply with phytosanitary
regulations (Cap 324)
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Avail import conditions of destination country
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Plant materials inspected at exit point and/or
during active growth. Must comply with the
importing country requirements
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Phytosanitary certificate and conformity certificate
issued
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Special procedures for restricted material (e.g.
CITES). Clearance from KWS required.
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◦ Must comply to Kenya import requirements
and requirements of final country of import
◦ Re- Export consignment are those imported
from other countries and handled in one
way or another in Kenya before exporting
into other countries
◦ Require re-inspection and issuance of
either a re-export phyto sanitary certificate
or a phytosanitary certificate
◦ Need to track and ensure they are reexported
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Do not need to comply with Kenya’s import
requirements
Transit consignments are those that pass through a
country without being imported under custom
control.
KEPHIS may apply measures if technically justified
and necessary to prevent introduction and spread of
pests
For consignments accompanied by a phytosanitary
certificates and not opened in Kenya, KEPHIS only
verifies the documentations from country of origin
Need to improve the tracking of these consignments
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No single agency or organization has both the
legal authority and a sufficient level of resources
to conduct an effective mitigation to protect
human, animal and plant health and life without
the involvement and support of others
Therefore, the need to bring together relevant
public and private sector players
Relevant skills and expertise in developing and
implementing effective mitigation activities, to
Protect Human, animal and plant Health and life
need to be brought together
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Limited resources
Lack of specialized capacity in specific disciplines
Inadequate visibility of service providers
Inadequate awareness about institutional Services
Inadequate Implementation procedures
Inadequate legal capacity
Increased competition for skilled staff
Inadequate institutional succession planning
Conflicting and unclear mandates
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Inadequate coordination of public agencies for
service delivery
Challenges in Document processing
Challenges in communication
Emergency of new SPS threats (new pests, food
safety)
Growing digital divide, ICT security risks and
threats
Evasion of certification services by stakeholders
Changing analytical technologies
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Increase demand for services
Enhanced cooperation with stakeholders and
collaborators
Strategic location in relation to East Africa and the
Region
Ready availability of skilled manpower in the
market
A vibrant economy and improved agricultural
growth
Increased demand for high quality agro inputs
Willing support for development partners
Regional harmonization of policies
Access to professional training
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Establishment of Automated support system for
enhanced phytosanitary capacity and
communication
Construction of modern laboratories for pest
diagnosis and quality assurance
Accredited laboratories
Training of staff
Establishment of linkages with local and
international collaborators
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Enhance staffing levels and skills
Acquire and improve ICT infrastructure and
systems
Enhance other infrastructural requirements for
efficient and effective implementation of SPS
Enhance institutional management
Establish strategic partnership for delivery of
service (local and international organization)
Capacity building for neighboring countries
Centre of Phytosanitary Excellence
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Thank you for your
attention
For more information
Contact:
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Kenya Plant Health
Inspectorate Service
(KEPHIS)
e.mail: director@kephis.org
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