KAAA CEO Lucy Muchoki
Kenya will for the first time host an international plant health conference that will bring together about 100 delegates from across the world. Dubbed the International Phytosanitary Conference in Africa, the event will be held at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) from 12th to 16th September 2016.
The objective of the conference is to provide a forum to share achievements, challenges and opportunities in application of phytosanitary measures towards food security assurance, to provide National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) with an opportunity to create linkages and promote market access regionally and internationally.
The event will also focus on identifying potential areas of collaboration on phytosanitary regulations at regional and international levels in trade facilitation and sharing and developing solutions on phytosanitary issues within the industry.
Phytosanitary 2016 Conference Logo
Although sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are aimed at protecting humans, animals and plants from diseases, pests or contaminants, there are inadequate or weak systems that hinder their implementation in many African countries. Failure to apply phytosanitary measures may lead to introduction of harmful or quarantine pests which not only lead to restriction in market access but can ruin agriculture and environment production.
On the other hand, if not correctly used, they can restrict trade therefore, SPS standards should be science based, and the SPS Agreement seeks to ensure that SPS measures do not unjustifiably discriminate against trade of certain other members nor be used to disguise trade restrictions.
The event will be officially opened by the Deputy President Hon. William Ruto and Jingyuan Xia; the Secretary International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) will be the Chief Guest. Other guests expected include the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MoALF) Hon. Willy Bett, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Industry Trade and Cooperatives (MoITC) Hon. Adan Mohamed and the Kenya Agribusiness and Agroindustry Alliance (KAAA) Chief Executive Officer Lucy Muchoki.
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