In a landmark two-day meeting held at the East African Community (EAC) headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, Kenya and Tanzania have successfully addressed longstanding concerns regarding the export of poultry and poultry products between them. Led by Mr. Rabson Wanjala from Kenya and Dr. Benezeth Lutege Malinda from Tanzania, the meeting emphasized the critical importance of trade between the two countries and the necessity for ongoing consultations to streamline and facilitate trade processes. Both parties committed to fostering trade relations, emphasizing collaborative efforts to ensure increased trade in the region.
Kenya has traditionally been a major exporter of poultry and poultry-related products to Tanzania, notably Day-Old Chicks (DOC), hatching eggs, parent stock, and processed poultry. However, due to the global outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Tanzania announced a ban on poultry imports from Kenya in 2021, severely hurting Kenya’s poultry business and limiting access to a critical market.
Veterinarian officials from both nations convened on April 29 and 30, 2024, with the aim of addressing the restriction on the export of poultry and poultry products from Kenya to Tanzania. Tanzania clarified that, in response to global outbreaks of Avian Influenza, it had not imposed a ban on Kenyan poultry and poultry products, as previously believed, but had instead implemented sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in accordance with disease notification reports from the World Organization for Animal Health. The public’s health and the welfare of animals were the targets of these actions.
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. Any facility intending to export poultry products from Kenya to Tanzania, and vice versa, may undergo a risk assessment to ensure compliance with SPS measures. Additionally, the two Partner States committed to enhancing surveillance efforts and capacity-building initiatives to ensure timely disease detection and reporting. Small-scale poultry producers in both countries will receive support to improve biosecurity measures in an effort to enhance their export opportunities.
Recognizing 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. 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. This resolution paves the way for a more harmonious and prosperous trade relationship between the two East African nations, benefiting not only their economies but also the livelihoods of countless individuals involved in the poultry industry.
