Avocados are sold in Kenyan markets, with some exported to international markets. Kenya is one of the leading exporters of avocados to European countries. Anyone interested in exporting avocados must follow specific procedures. This article outlines the procedures for exporting avocados from Kenya.
The following are six steps to follow to export avocados from Kenya:
Step 1: Acquire Food Hygiene License
To begin, you must have a Public Health Service food hygiene license for export. It is required for those who process and package human-consuming products.
Step 2: Premise Inspection
First, a premise inspection is done by the Public Health Service(PHS ) to confirm if a farmer has all the requirements like food hygiene, a valid medical certificate, and protective clothing equipment.
Secondly, you request a two-hour inspection of the pack house by an HCD official. You will be given a list containing produce handling personnel, traceability procedures, stock records, and protective clothing and equipment.
Third, you will request a farm inspection from the same agency to determine whether the farm has adequate security, sanitary storage facilities, and a grading facility.
Finally, submit an export license application to HCD along with documents such as previously obtained reports, business permits, and tax compliance certificates. You pay an export license fee after receiving approval notification.
Step 3: Register as an Exporter
After getting an export license, you register to become an avocado exporter at KEPHIS and pay application costs.
Step 4: Obtain a European Union Certificate of Origin
After three training days, one obtains a European Union certificate of origin from KRA. After applying, the taxman must verify the avocado’s premises’ origin. You are then given a registration letter and a payment authorization slip to be paid at the bank for the insurance of your EU certificate of origin.
Step 5: Clearance from HCD
Obtain export clearance from HCD, which must test export samples and send an oil content analysis report, laboratory analysis, and evaluation sheet to the trader via email once approved.
Then you go back to KEPHIS for a phytosanitary certificate and a request for inspection of the consignment, and once cleared, you apply for the certificate and pay for the license after an hour. You then obtain a health certificate from KenTrade. Afterward, you obtain another consignment inspection done by PHS.
Step 6: Submission of Documents
You have to contract a clearing agent at Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association, and custom entry is lodged at KRA before payment for the airline concession fee is made. Afterward, you submit documents for verification at the customs shed, followed by physical consignment verification. A pass entry is obtained, and documents are submitted for perfection.
Finally, you will be given an export certificate, and you will be able to export avocados from Kenya.
Where Does Kenya Export Avocados?
Kenyans export their avocados mainly to European countries like France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Russia, and the Middle East, especially in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Egypt.
Kenya now exports avocados to China after China allowed fresh avocado imports from Kenya, making Kenya the first country in Africa to export avocados to China.
The export of avocados from Kenya has increased by a large volume. Currently, Kenya exports about 86 million tonnes of avocados a year.
6 Requirement to Export Avocados from Kenya
Several requirements are needed to export avocados from Kenya.
These requirements include:
1. Export license from the Horticultural Crops Directorate
2. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service phytosanitary and conformity certificates
3. The exporter should apply for an export permit before exporting.
4. You must be a member of the export association.
5. You must have a European Union certificate of origin from KRA.
6. The farmer should be certified and have a phytosanitary certificate.
Exporting Avocados from Kenya
Kenya mainly exports avocados to Europe and Middle Eastern countries. Those exporting avocados from Kenya first need to have a Horticultural Crops Development Authority license and be certified by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service. You have to be a member of the exporters’ association.
HCD and Kephis normally inspect farms of exporters and give the phytosanitary certificate to allow for export. Inspection is done a few months before export, and one should obtain a European Union certificate of origin from KRA and an export health certificate from KenTrade. After this, one is given a certificate of export numbers, enabling exporting avocados.
Avocados are exported to international markets in huge volumes every year. Due to an increase in global demand for avocados, their prices are rising. For instance, the export price of a kilo of avocado is Ksh. 176 on average, and a 4 kg packed carton is Ksh. 800 per carton.
7 Leading Avocado Factories in Kenya
There are avocado factories in Kenya that deal with exporting and manufacturing avocados.
The following are seven leading export avocado factories in Kenya:
1. Kakuzi Limited
2. Vegpro Kenya
3. Sunripe
4. Kenya Horticultural Exporters Ltd.
5. East African Growers
6. Biofarm Limited
7. Avocado Society of Kenya.
The avocados to be exported must meet the following requirements:
1. Avocado fruits must be uniform in shape and size for export.
2. Avocados should contain a maximum amount of chemical residue.
3. Avocado fruits to be exported need to be mature.
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