The United Kingdom has consented to a reduction of the inspection tariff on Kenyan horticultural products from 10% to 5%. Salim Mvurya, the Investments, Trade, and Industry CS, stated this adjustment aims to enhance the competitiveness of Kenyan goods within the UK market. The rationale behind the adjustment, as explained by Mvurya, is to lower the costs associated with the mandatory inspection process, where previously 100 grams per kilogram of produce required testing.
This announcement was made following discussions with Neil Wigan, the British High Commissioner to Kenya, alongside Principal Secretaries from Trade, Industry, and Investment Promotion sectors. This development is anticipated to benefit Kenya's agricultural sector significantly, especially for the daily exports of vegetables like peas and beans to the UK. Furthermore, Wigan highlighted that Kenyan flowers are now being exported to the UK without any tariffs, a policy effective for a two-year period until June 30, 2026, aimed at bolstering trade and economic ties between the two regions.
Source: The Star