Kenyan vegetable exporters to the European Union face tougher mandatory compliance procedures starting this month as new food safety rules take effect.
The Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) said that from January 1, all exporters of key vegetables to the bloc will have to provide details of the safety standards of their produce.
“All exporters of beans and peas including French beans, runner beans, sugar snaps, snow peas and garden peas are required to fill the common entry document Annex II in line with new EU requirements,” it said in a notice.
The European Parliament has adopted tough measures on food safety in which all consignments entering the bloc must be subject to thorough scrutiny right from the point of origin.
Under the new regulations, exporters to the EU will be required to fill a Common Entry Document (CED) which would be counter checked by authorities to confirm compliance with all safety controls on harmful elements such as Aflatoxins, pesticide residues and metals such as lead.
“We hope to fit in with the new requirements because a lot of sensitisation is going on. We hope many will comply,” Joseph Ndirangu, a vegetable grower, said on phone.
Kenyan fresh produce exports to Europe have in the past two years come under threat as authorities in the target market tightened health controls on items such pesticides.
Read more: Food exporters to European Union face tougher rules - Politics and policy - businessdailyafrica.com
No comments:
Post a Comment