Chilli farmers, processors and exporters are set to benefit from access to the Chinese market after Kenya secured approval to export dried chillies to the Asian country.
The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) announced the development on Thursday, October 22, saying shipments will be allowed into China provided exporters meet the country’s plant health, food safety and quality requirements.
In a statement, the agency said the agreement creates an opportunity for local producers to expand their reach beyond existing export destinations and increase trade in dried chillies.
“The market access presents an opportunity for Kenyan producers and exporters to diversify export markets and increase trade in dried chillies,” KEPHIS said.
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Exporters face strict compliance rules
Processors and exporters seeking to supply China will be required to meet a set of conditions covering farm registration, pest management, product traceability, processing, packaging and export certification.
Under the new arrangement, processing and packing facilities must be inspected and approved by KEPHIS before they are registered with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), the Chinese authority responsible for customs administration.
Farmers and exporters must also register their farms, production sites, drying facilities and packhouses with KEPHIS and comply with the applicable export certification procedures.
Each shipment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by KEPHIS to confirm that it meets China’s plant health requirements.
The agency has also directed industry players to establish traceability systems, adopt Good Agricultural Practices and Integrated Pest Management, and retain pest surveillance records for at least two years.
Food safety standards set for chilli shipments
Exporters will also be required to meet China’s food safety limits for pesticide residues, aflatoxin B1 and heavy metals.
The use of Sudan dyes is prohibited, with KEPHIS maintaining that consignments must comply with microbiological standards such as being free from Salmonella contamination.
Dried chillies must have a moisture content of no more than 13 per cent and meet the prescribed packaging and labelling rules.
Exporters are further required to use clean, suitable packaging materials to maintain product quality during handling and transportation.
KEPHIS has further listed quarantine pests and pathogens that must not be detected in consignments destined for China.
These include the khapra beetle, cowpea weevil and common bean bruchid, as well as several plant pathogens and viruses.
The list also covers potato spindle tuber viroid, tomato brown rugose fruit virus and organisms associated with diseases such as zebra chip of potatoes and bacterial canker of tomatoes.
KEPHIS urged interested industry players to contact the agency for guidance on the registration, certification and compliance procedures required to access the Chinese market.
“Interested farmers, exporters, processors, aggregators and industry associations are encouraged to get in touch with KEPHIS for further guidance,” the agency said.
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