Following a clean bill of health from an audit, China has cleared 15 firms to export avocado into its vast market.
According to the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis), the 15 farms have been cleared, and they will conduct the exports using nine-pack houses approved by both Chinese and Kenyan authorities.
“I can confirm that the audits by the Chinese have cleared the Kenyan firms to export the avocado to China,” said Isaac Macharia, General Manager, Phytosanitary services.
Kakuzi revealed that had commenced the field harvesting and pre-shipment preparation for an inaugural Hass variety avocado consignment, which was shipped out to China last weekend.
Managing director Chris Flowers, Kakuzi said, “…in this trial phase, we intend to test the entire system capacity and fix any challenges between ourselves, the phytosanitary protocols facility and Kephis ahead of the planned larger shipments before the end of the next quarter.”
In May, Kephis completed an inspection of the firms that had applied for licenses to export the fruits to China; however, the process could not begin because the Chinese imposed a new requirement that required them to conduct a different audit.
The exporters have been waiting for three years in vain to begin exporting to the Chinese market after China imposed stringent measures that required Kenya to only export frozen crops.
However, in March, China permitted Kenya to export fresh avocados, reversing a previous directive that required the country to export only frozen fruit.
Producers and exporters who want to export fresh avocados to China must now ensure that all of their production farms, pack houses, and fumigation treatment facilities are registered with Kephis as one of the new requirements for access to that market.
All fresh avocado fruits destined for export must also meet Chinese phytosanitary (plant health) laws and regulations, as well as health and safety standards, and be free of any quarantine pests of concern to China.
They will also be required to follow Good Agricultural Practices, keep proper sanitary conditions, and implement Integrated Pest Management programs, which include pest monitoring, chemical and biological control, and any other pest control operations.
