Friday June 28, 2024 – The government of President William Ruto, through
the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), has announced the
implementation of new fees for phytosanitary services starting from July 15,
2024.
This comes amid uproar over the
Finance Bill which had introduced many new taxes.
The new fees will apply to all
importers and exporters of agricultural products and produce within
Kenya.
Phytosanitary services encompass
various measures aimed at controlling plant diseases in agricultural crops.
Under the updated directive from
KEPHIS, exporters of fresh produce will be required to obtain a phytosanitary
certificate and undergo inspection before their products can be exported.
This will be charged at a rate
of 50 cents per kilogram with a minimum charge of Ksh100.
Additionally, traders will be
required to pay another Ksh500 for every phytosanitary certificate.
For imported agricultural
produce/products, KEPHIS will require a plant import permit and inspection
certificate.
Entrepreneurs will pay 50 cents
per kilogram and an additional Ksh600 per plant permit.
Traders who are seeking to
import or export agricultural produce will be required to part with
Ksh10,000 before the ship transporting the product is inspected.
If the vessel carrying the
produce is large a Ksh5,000 physical test will be charged with a Ksh1,000
charge for smaller vessels including dhows and canoes.
For inspection of containers, a
40-foot large container will be billed Ksh1,000 for each inspection and Ksh500
for 20-foot containers.
Businessmen will pay Ksh1,000
for moisture content determination per sample.
Traders transporting
agricultural produce by air will pair Ksh3,000 for KEPHIS to inspect large
aircraft and Ksh1,500 for small aircraft.
“Sample of minor consignment for
quality examination per consignment will be Ksh5,000,” the notice from KEPHIS
read in part.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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