Following China’s abolition of the requirement that Kenyan avocados must be frozen for export to China and allowed to be exported in fresh form, Kenya’s crop regulator, the Kenya Phytosanitary Inspection Service (KEPHIS), has completed an audit of companies intending to export to China.
However, recently, according to KEPHIS, before the Kenyan fresh avocados finally entered the market, the Chinese side requested another online inspection of the relevant facilities.
Isaac Macharia, general manager of KEPHIS phytosanitary services, said: "We have been notified by China that they need to conduct online inspections of orchards and facilities before we can start exporting avocados to this market."
Macharia said there are currently more than a dozen companies. They expressed their willingness to export avocados to China, and they have now completed their review.But some exporting companies have expressed concern, saying they have not been allowed to export months after the review was completed.
KEPHIS said the new Chinese demands were the reason for the impeded progress.
It is reported that one of the conditions for entering the Chinese market is that all producers and exporters who want to export fresh avocados to China must ensure that their production farms, packaging plants and fumigation facilities are registered with the government; all fresh avocados to be exported must meet the Applicable Chinese phytosanitary (plant health) laws and regulations, health and safety standards, and no quarantine pests prohibited by China.
Kenyan avocado growers are also required to have Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) qualifications, ensure sanitary conditions, and implement an integrated pest management plan, including pest monitoring, chemical and biological control, and all other pest control measures.
