Tanzania and Kenya have successfully resolved a longstanding trade dispute concerning the export of poultry and poultry products said the East African Community (EAC).
According to the East African, the statement by the EAC said the dispute was resolved during a two-day consultative meeting at the EAC headquarters in North Tanzania.
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Kenya and Tanzania have been at odds over economic and logistic issues, with traders from both countries rivaling each other. Despite both countries being part of the East African Community, border checks and conflicts have resulted in occasional unrest and protests along the border.
Rabson Wanjala, the meeting’s Co-chair and the representative of the Kenyan High Commissioner to Tanzania emphasized the endeavors made by both nations to enhance trade relations. He underscored the significance of collaborative efforts between the two countries to boost trade within the region.
Benezeth Lutege Malinda, Acting Director of Veterinary Services in Tanzania’s Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, said Tanzania is actively addressing all hindrances to trade by ensuring that agencies responsible for trade are focused on resolving issues, particularly non-tariff barriers, that hinder trade.
“We remain committed to tackling these challenges and fostering an environment conducive to seamless trade between Kenya and Tanzania,” he said.
Representatives from the veterinary agencies of both nations attended the meeting to discuss potential solutions for lifting the restrictions on the export of poultry and poultry products from Kenya to Tanzania.
The EAC statement revealed that Tanzania banned imports of poultry and poultry-related products from Kenya in 2021 due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza leading to a serious disruption of the Kenyan poultry industry due to the loss of a major market.
Outcome Of The Meeting
The meeting, convened from 29th to 30th April 2024, brought together veterinary authorities from both countries to resolve 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:
Clarification of the Ban: Contrary to previous understanding, Tanzania clarified that it had not imposed a ban on Kenyan poultry and poultry products but had implemented sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures (requirements) in response to the global Avian Influenza outbreaks as per the World Organization for Animal Health disease notification reports. These measures aimed at safeguarding animal and public health;
Continued Trade: Both parties affirmed that trade in DOCs 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 Partner States are committed to enhancing 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 to enhance their export opportunities; and
Enhanced Communication: Recognising 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.
Finally, the outcomes of the meeting signify a significant step forward in resolving trade disputes and fostering mutually beneficial relations between Kenya and Tanzania. Both countries are committed to upholding transparency, facilitating trade, and ensuring the health and safety of their citizens.
You Should Also Know That
- Kenya has been a major exporter of poultry and poultry-related products to Tanzania, including day-old chicks, hatching of eggs, parent stock, and processed poultry items.
- According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Kenya’s poultry exports to Tanzania are worth $1.1 million.
- Apart from poultry and poultry-related products, Kenya also exports poultry machinery to Tanzania, which Tanzanian poultry farmers demand.
