Tanzania and Kenya have taken significant strides in addressing longstanding concerns over poultry and poultry product exports, marking a crucial development in resolving trade disputes and strengthening bilateral relations.
In a landmark two-day meeting held at the East African Community (EAC) headquarters in Arusha, agreements and commitments were reached on Tuesday to facilitate trade between the two countries. Dr. Benezeth Malinda, the Co-Chair of the meeting from Tanzania, emphasized the commitment to address trade barriers, particularly Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), to ensure seamless trade.
"We remain committed to tackling these challenges and fostering an environment conducive to seamless trade between the two countries," stated Dr. Malinda during the meeting.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to transparency, trade facilitation, and the health and safety of their citizens. The meeting underscored the critical importance of trade relations and emphasized the need for ongoing consultations to streamline trade processes.
Mr. Rabson Wanjala, the CoChair of the meeting from Kenya, highlighted the significance of collaborative efforts to enhance trade relations, emphasizing the commitments made to bolster trade between the two nations.
Historically, Kenya has been a major exporter of poultry and related products to Tanzania. However, in 2021, Tanzania imposed a ban on poultry imports from Kenya due to concerns over Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), impacting Kenya's poultry industry.
The recent meeting aimed to resolve the ban and discussions resulted in several agreements. Tanzania clarified that it had not imposed a ban on Kenyan poultry but had implemented sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in response to global Avian Influenza outbreaks. Both parties affirmed that trade in Day-Old Chicks (DOCs) and hatching eggs between the two countries was ongoing, with facilities adhering to high biosecurity standards permitted to operate.
Additionally, facilities intending to export poultry products must undergo a risk assessment to ensure compliance with SPS measures. Both countries committed to enhancing surveillance and capacity-building initiatives for timely disease detection and reporting. Support will also be provided to small-scale poultry producers to improve biosecurity measures and enhance export opportunities.
Efforts to strengthen communication and collaboration between veterinary competent authorities were also pledged to swiftly resolve issues related to SPS measures, underscoring the commitment to fostering trade relations between Tanzania and Kenya