Sky is not falling on poultry business between Kenya and Tanzania.
The two countries are currently working to resolve the four-year old, cross-border poultry trade quagmire existing between them.
But contrary to previous understanding, Tanzanian authorities have clarified that it had not imposed a ban on Kenyan chicks and poultry products but had implemented Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
The requirements on the Tanzanian side were taken in response to the global Avian Influenza outbreaks as per the World Organization for Animal Health disease notification reports, with the measures being aimed at safeguarding animal and public health.
In a landmark two-day meeting held at the East African Community headquarters in Arusha, Kenya and Tanzania have successfully addressed longstanding concerns regarding the export of chicks and poultry products between them.
The Meeting Co-Chairperson Rabson Wanjala, from Kenya, emphasized the critical importance of trade between the two countries, highlighting the necessity for ongoing consultations to streamline and facilitate trade processes.
Wanjala said that both countries had committed to fostering trade relations, adding that the commitments made underscore the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure increased trade in the region.
His Tanzanian counterpart, Dr Benezeth Lutege Malinda, explained that Tanzania has already embarked on ensuring all trade-facilitating agencies address and resolve any issues hindering trade, particularly the Non-Tariff Barriers to trade.
“We remain committed to tackling these challenges and fostering an environment conducive to seamless trade between Kenya and Tanzania,” he said.
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). This ban severely impacted Kenya’s poultry industry, hindering access to a vital market.
The meeting 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.
The two parties discussed their concerns and reached the following agreements regarding the trade of poultry between Kenya and Tanzania:
Continued Trade
Both parties affirmed that trade in Day Old Chicks and hatching eggs between the two countries was ongoing, with facilities demonstrating high biosecurity standards permitted to operate;
Risk Assessment
Any facility intending to export poultry products from Kenya to URT, and vice versa, may undergo a risk assessment to ensure compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures;
Surveillance and Capacity Building
The two EAC Partner States committed to enhance surveillance efforts and capacity-building initiatives to ensure timely disease detection and reporting. Further, it was agreed that small-scale poultry producers in both countries will receive support to improve biosecurity measures in an effort to enhance their export opportunities; and
Enhanced Communication
Recognizing the importance of efficient communication, both veterinary competent authorities in the two Partner States pledged to strengthen collaboration for swift issue resolution regarding SPS measures.