Kenya is staring at a possible loss of the multi-billion-shilling Australian flower market after the country passed new stringent rules that could lock out exports to the country.
The new set of rules to be effected on September 1 require all the horticultural produce exported to Australia to have zero levels of pests.
Flowers exported to the country are currently fumigated at the port of entry in Australia before getting into the market.
“It is very difficult for us to comply with the zero pest requirement given that we do not have the necessary infrastructure in place at the moment,” said Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) of Kenya chief executive officer Okesegere Ojepat in an interview.
The Kenya Flower Council estimates the value of Nairobi’s rose flower exports to Australia at Sh2.7 billion.
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