The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has affirmed that Kenya is well-prepared to meet the European Union’s upcoming flower import standards, with necessary protocols already submitted.
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Kenya has developed and presented a False Codling Moth (FCM) System Approach protocol to the EU to ensure compliance and maintain the quality of its flower exports. The move comes ahead of the EU’s stricter import regulations taking effect on April 26.
Kagwe emphasized that Kenya is taking proactive measures to protect its multi-billion shilling flower export industry, which the Kenya Flower Council values at $3.7 billion (Sh480.7 billion). In 2024 alone, the country exported over 102,000 tonnes of flowers worth Sh72.1 billion—accounting for over half of its total horticulture export earnings.
Losing access to the EU, Kenya’s primary flower export destination, would have serious economic consequences.
The new EU regulations, under Regulation (EU) 2024/2004, are designed to protect the bloc’s agriculture by tightening pest control measures for fresh-cut flower imports. The focus is on preventing the spread of the False Codling Moth (FCM), a pest native to sub-Saharan Africa that has severely affected Kenya’s rose exports. Starting April 26, inspection rates for rose imports into the EU will increase from 5% to 25%.
This regulatory shift follows a 2023 report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which identified fresh-cut roses as a high-risk pathway for FCM. Besides flowers, the pest also infests crops like citrus, avocados, and vegetables.
In 2024, Kenya faced 95 rejected flower consignments and 48 interceptions due to FCM detections—impacting over 2.1 million stems valued at Sh150 million.
To address these concerns, Kenya is enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy on FCM through agencies like the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), and the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
Kenya is currently implementing the Rose False Codling Moth Systems Approach (Rose FCMSA), a pest management strategy approved by the EU. The protocol outlines Kenya’s detailed steps to contain and eliminate the pest threat.
Additionally, extensive training is being rolled out. So far, 475 agro-attendants and 849 other floriculture sector workers have been trained to align with the new EU requirements.
Speaking at the Flower Logistics Africa (FLA) 2025 event in Nairobi, Kenya Flower Council CEO Clement Tulezi acknowledged the sector’s resilience while also cautioning about its mounting challenges.
He pointed to heightened scrutiny from international buyers and the EU’s tough phytosanitary standards as key threats. Increased FCM-related shipment rejections are becoming a major concern.
Tulezi also criticized the high operational costs and tax burdens affecting competitiveness. Kenyan flower growers face up to 52 different taxes annually, alongside soaring prices for inputs like fertilisers, chemicals, and equipment.
He noted that Kenya is at a disadvantage compared to rivals like Ethiopia and Colombia, where production costs are far lower. For example, Kenyan farmers spend $2.70 per kilogram to produce flowers, compared to $1.90 in Ethiopia.
Logistical costs are another hurdle—air freight charges rose from $2.10 to $4.30 per kilogram between October 2024 and January 2025, further eroding growers’ margins.
