- After nearly a decade of the export ban, Kenya has started negotiations with Europe to resume mango exports to the EU.
- Kenyan delegation led by Directorate of Horticulture and Kenya Health Plant Inspectorate Service (Kephis) officials, was in Brussels to lobby for resuming mango exports to the EU.
After nearly a decade of the export ban, Kenya has started negotiations with Europe to resume mango exports to the EU. Kenyan delegation led by Directorate of Horticulture and Kenya Health Plant Inspectorate Service (Kephis) officials, was in Brussels to lobby for resuming mango exports to the EU.
Kenya’s self-imposed ban of Mango exports to the EU came into existence in 2012. It was feared that the product would be blacklisted due to the high level of fruit flies, which are quarantine pests in the EU. To overcome the issue, pest-free zones were established in Makueni and Elgeyo Marakwet counties. Kenyan officials are using the creation of pest-free areas as a basis for restarting mango exports to the EU.
A few tonnes of mangoes were exported to Italy on a trial basis in September from the pest-free zones and were met with approval. The bulk of Kenyan Mangoes are currently exported to the Middle East. But the returns compared to the EU are very low. Additionally, Kenyan mangoes face stiff competition from the Egyptian fruits because of the low cost of shipping from Cairo to Dubai and Qatar while Kenya has to export by air for the fruits to arrive fresh.
