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Wildlife & wildlife products
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Import

Seeds (Mbegu) See associated HS codes

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Preliminary registrations, licences & certificates

The regulation of plant & plant materials is under the mandate of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), who is responsible for the assurance of plant health, seed, plant variety, & agro-inputs quality issues in Kenya, to prevent adverse impact on the economy, the environment and human health. Importers of plant & plant materials are required to obtain a Plant Import Permit (PIP) per consignment, which is processed through KEPHIS’ Integrated Export Import Certification System (IEICS). For more information on how to register on IEICS, click the link.

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National Performance Trials (NPT) & Distinctiveness Uniformity and Stability (DUS) Testing

Import of seeds is regulated by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). Before a new variety or species of seed can be imported into the Kenyan market, the seed has to go under National Performance Trials (NPT) and Distinctiveness Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing. The tests are done to determine whether a new plant variety is distinct from any known plant variety in respect of specified characteristics, uniform in morphological, physiological or other accepted characteristics; and stable in its description after repeated reproduction or propagation. Once the seeds have been cleared for import, the new seed varieties will be listed in the Kenya Gazette. For more information on how to obtain NPT & DUS test reports, click the link.

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The Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) is a State Corporation mandated to establish, implement & manage the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and to facilitate trade. The TFP is an online platform that serves as a single entry point for parties involved in international trade & transport logistics to lodge documents electronically, for processing, approvals and to make payments electronically for fees, levies, duties & taxes due to the Government, on imported or exported goods. Training is mandatory for new users of the system prior to registration on the system; this includes new staff from organizations already registered on the TFP. For more information on how to register on the TFP, click the link.

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Registrations, licences & certificates renewals

Import of seeds is regulated by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). Anyone intending to engage in the trade (locally) or import of seeds must first register with KEPHIS as a seed merchant and obtain a certificate of registration which is valid for one (1) calendar year. Failure to renew the seed merchant certificate of registration for two (2) consecutive years leads to loss of status as a registered seed merchant and will require a fresh application to be made as a new applicant. For more information on how to renew a certificate of registration for seed merchants, click the link.

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Permits

Letter of no objection to import Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) is mandated to exercise general supervision and control over the transfer, handling and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) with a view to ensuring both safety of human and animal health, as well as provision of an adequate level of protection of the environment. For more information on how to obtain a letter of no objection from NBA, click the link.

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Approval for importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

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Import certificate (for horticultural products)

An import certificate is issued by AFA Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD ) to an importer of horticultural produce (fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers) as an indication that AFA HCD has cleared the consignment for import.

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Import Declaration Form (IDF)

The Import Declaration Form (IDF) is a declaration of the customs value of a consignment, and is issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA), Customs Services Department. Importers are required to complete an IDF and sign it to show that they have declared the true & accurate value of the imported goods before they leave the country of origin. IDFs that remain unutilized after three (3) months from the date of issuance will automatically attract the appropriate sanctions. For more information on how to obtain an IDF, click the link.

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Plant Import Permit (PIP) (For seeds)

Import of plant & plant materials is regulated by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) who issue a Plant Import Permit (PIP) per consignment, which ascertains that the consignment has met the requirements outlined on the permit as per the type of species, and ensure that foreign injurious pests, diseases & noxious weeds which are non-existent in Kenya are not introduced or spread when importing plant material into the country. The PIP is valid for six (6) months from the date of issue. For more information on how to obtain the PIP, click the link.

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Local Certificate of Conformity (CoC) (only applies to consignments that arrive without a CoC)

A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is a certified document issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), which assures that commodities have met the required standards & specifications. When a consignment arrives in Kenya without a CoC, indicating that the consignment was inspected at the country of origin, an importer is required to obtain a local CoC. The certificate is only issued after successful inspection & verification of the consignment is carried out by KEBS. For more information on how to obtain a local CoC, click the link.

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Clearance

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Seeds import procedure through the Lunga Lunga One Stop Border Post (OSBP)

In accordance with the provisions of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), goods for importation shall be entered (declared) within twenty-one (21) days after the commencement of discharge or in the case of vehicles, on arrival. Importers are required to acquire the services of a licensed customs clearing agent, who is mandated to process the importation documents in the Customs system and assist in clearing goods on the importer’s behalf. Upon arrival, importers must declare their consignment to a KEPHIS inspector for verification & drawing of samples for testing & analysis as per Chapter 2 of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Regulations, prior to issuance of a seed testing certificate. For more information on how to import a consignment of seeds through the Lunga Lunga OSBP, click the link.

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Seeds import procedure through the Taveta-Holili One Stop Border Post (OSBP)

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Seeds import procedure through the Namanga One Stop Border Post (OSBP)

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Seeds import procedure through the Isebania One Stop Border Post (OSBP)

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Seeds import procedure through the Inland Container Depot, Nairobi (ICDN)

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Seeds import procedure through the Malaba One Stop Border Post (OSBP)

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Seeds import procedure through the Busia One Stop Border Post (OSBP)

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Seeds import procedure through the Eldoret International Airport (EIA)

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Procedures for a first-time trader

Import seeds through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)

This procedure sequentially compiles the licences, permits and clearance steps to be fulfilled by a registered business owner importing a consignment of seeds, of more than $2000 of value, for the first time into Kenya, via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

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