Nairobi: A chemical used as an ingredient in 25 pesticides has been banned in Kenya’s efforts to safeguard the increasingly safety-conscious European fresh produce market. Exports of fresh produce comprising fruits and vegetables worth Sh20 billion were last year denied entry into the EU market after they were found to contain more than the recommended levels of the pesticide, Dimethoate.
“This problem has led to the threat of Kenyan produce being sanctioned by the EU and already the situation is under surveillance by European authorities,” said Agriculture secretary Wilson Songa.
“Last year, fresh produce worth Sh20 billion were denied entry to the key market because they contained dimethoate and contracts for suppliers were cancelled”.
The exports, including French beans, mongetouts and passion fruits, were found to have exceeded the 0.02 parts per million (ppm) limit of Dimethoate.
The harmful substance is a key ingredient for 25 different chemicals sold in the Kenyan market but is considered dangerous to the environment, marine life, bees and livestock. Dimethoate is also thought to cause cancer
“The 25 or so pesticides are now being relabelled because local and foreign markets have rejected its use,” Dr Songa said, adding that the European Union had lowered the maximum residue levels from 0.2 parts per million (ppm) 0.02 ppm.
Dimethoate has been popular with farmers due to its high efficacy in controlling pests in vegetables and fruits.
However, it was rejected by the European Union Food and Veterinary Office in 2009 through a directive that reduced the allowed Maximum Residue Limit to the current levels, effectively a technical ban.
An appeal by UK growers to the European Standards and Safety Council (ESSC) was rejected despite there being no immediate alternatives to replace the chemical.
The EU is this year expected to start inspecting produce for Dimethoate, placing a new safety hurdle to a market that consumes more than 80 per cent of Kenya’s fresh produce.
“We received three warnings in 2011 by the EU. There have been several others from supermarkets which have direct contracts with Kenyan farmers,” said Fresh Produce and Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK) chief executive officer Stephen Mbithi.
The government is now planning to sensitise farmers on chemicals that can be used instead of Diophyte. “We have alternatives that we plan to introduce,” said Dr Songa.
“Dimethoate is very effective and very cheap. It can be used in many crops for different pests. This is a voluntary ban,” said Gladys Maina, CEO of the Pests and Poisons Control Board (PCPB).
Dr Songa said the chemical can still be used on other crops like cotton with a total ban set to be effected gradually.
Data by Kenya Revenue Authority shows that Kenya exported 403,000 tonnes of horticultural produce, earning Sh80 billion ($945 million) in 2010. Industry players project up to Sh100 billion in sector earnings this year, making it the second highest income earner to tea, which earned Sh109 billion last year.
The main exports of fruits include avocadoes, mangoes, pineapples, passion fruits, French beans, runner beans, snow peas and Asian vegetables.
With fresh produce exports hit by EU pesticide rules, Dimethioate joins substances like methomyl bromide and oxamyl, which were banned in the recent past. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a control against malaria and farm pests was banned in 1988 after it developed resistance leading to environmental pollution.
Kenya has embarked on building fresh produce centers with efforts ongoing to sell fresh produce from designated points that are safe and hygienic.
An electronic export certification which over 200 traders use to log produce destined for export was launched last April to strengthen traceability measures.
Up to 62 exporters require conformity certification to directly access the European market through countries like Germany, France, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium.
FPEAK last year launched a local standards procedure manual for fruits and vegetables —KenyaGap — while the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) takes the lead role as the regulatory agency.
