Mango export: Kenya to curb illegal shipments

Kenya’s agricultural regulator, on Tuesday, announced new measures to tighten controls on the export of mangoes in a bid to curb illegal shipments.

The regulations, which include mandatory physical inspection of shipments, are to prevent exporters from mixing mangoes with other fruits.

Mixing has been a practice that emerged following the suspension of avocado exports on Oct. 31, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), said in a statement published by local media on Tuesday

AFA is a government corporation established to develop, regulate and promote scheduled crops.

“All mango exporters, with effect from Nov. 13, are to apply for physical inspection of their consignments at their packing houses,” AFA Director-General, Willis Audi, said.

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Audi added that the AFA took the step after noticing that some exporters were mixing shipments of mangoes and avocados.

According to him, they are doing this in order to circumvent a temporary ban on the export of the latter to stop the shipment of unripe fruits.

Mangoes are Kenya’s second most important fruit export after avocados

Kenya exports fresh and processed mangoes mainly to the Middle East, China and European Union countries such as the Netherlands and Britain. (Xinhua)