Kenya Tightens Mango Export Measures to Curb Illegal Shipments

Kenya’s agricultural regulator announced new measures on Tuesday to tighten controls on mango exports in an effort to curb illegal shipments.

The regulations, which include a mandatory physical inspection of shipments, are intended to prevent exporters from mixing mangoes with other fruits, a practice that emerged following the suspension of avocado exports on Oct. 31, according to a statement published by local media on Tuesday by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), a government corporation established to develop, regulate, and promote scheduled crops.

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

Audi clarified that the AFA took action after noticing that some exporters were combining mango and avocado shipments in order to avoid a temporary ban on the latter’s export to prevent the shipment of unripe fruits.

After avocados, mangoes are Kenya’s second most important fruit export. Kenya primarily exports fresh and processed mangoes to the Middle East, China, and European Union countries such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.