In a meeting held at the East African Community (EAC) headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, Kenya and Tanzania have successfully addressed longstanding concerns regarding the export of poultry and poultry products between the two partner states.
The meeting which took place from 29th to 30th April, 2024 brought together veterinary authorities from both countries with the objective of resolving the ban on the export of poultry and poultry products from Kenya to Tanzania.
After the meeting the two countries agreed that any facility intending to export poultry products from Kenya to Tanzania, and vice versa, may undergo a risk assessment to ensure compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
“We remain committed to tackling these challenges and fostering an environment conducive to seamless trade between Kenya and Tanzania,” said Mr. Rabson Wanjala, Co-Chair of the meeting from Kenya.
Mr. Wanjala reiterated the critical importance of trade between the two countries, highlighting the necessity for ongoing consultations to streamline and facilitate trade processes.
The two Partner States are now committed to enhance surveillance efforts and capacity-building initiatives to ensure timely disease detection and reporting. It was agreed during the meeting that small-scale poultry producers in both countries will receive support to improve biosecurity measures in an effort to enhance their export opportunities.
“Tanzania has embarked on ensuring all trade-facilitating agencies address and resolve any issues hindering trade, particularly the Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to trade,” said Dr. Benezeth Lutege Malinda, the Co-Chair of the meeting from Tanzania.
Kenya has historically been a significant exporter of poultry and poultry-related products to Tanzania, including Day-Old Chicks (DOC), hatching eggs, parent stock and processed poultry items.
However, in 2021, Tanzania imposed a ban on poultry imports from Kenya due to the global outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The ban severely impacted Kenya’s poultry industry, hindering access to a vital market.
Tanzania clarified that it had not imposed a ban on Kenyan poultry and poultry products but had implemented sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures (requirements) in response to the global Avian Influenza outbreaks as per the World Organization for Animal Health disease notification reports.