Kenya Moves to Tackle Flower Pest Threat as EU Tightens Import Rules

The government has reassured players in Kenya’s floriculture sector that it is taking decisive steps to address the False Codling Moth (FCM) challenge among other key issues affecting the sector, as the country gears up for the enforcement of the European Union’s new phytosanitary directive, Regulation (EU) 2024/2004.

Speaking during the just concluded International Floriculture Trade Expo (IFTEX) 2025 in Nairobi, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government was committed to ensuring Kenya’s flower exports meet the highest international standards and remain competitive globally.

“I would like to assure the EU that our compliance will be at 100 percent, and our produce will meet the highest quality standards, ensuring that FCM is never detected in our flowers again,” said Kagwe.

The EU regulation, which takes effect in April 2025, increases inspection rates for fresh-cut roses from Kenya—from 5 percent to 25 percent—unless the country demonstrates effective pest risk management. The False Codling Moth, an endemic pest in Africa, poses a significant phytosanitary risk and has triggered several interceptions in the EU over the past year.

In 2024, Kenya experienced 95 shipment rejections and 48 FCM interceptions in the EU, resulting in the destruction of over 2.1 million flower stems and financial losses amounting to approximately KSh150 million.

To address the issue, Kagwe said Kenya has developed and submitted a Systems Approach protocol to the European Commission, outlining pest monitoring, greenhouse safeguards, field sanitation, and rigorous inspections.

“We are not taking chances. We have already inspected 134 flower farms and classified them as compliant, issuing each with a unique code to ensure full traceability in case of any future interceptions,” he noted.

Kagwe also revealed that the government had trained 475 agro-attendants and over 849 floriculture value chain staff on FCM identification and control. The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), and the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) are working jointly to implement the response plan.

But FCM is just one of several challenges facing the floriculture sector. Kagwe said the government was also reviewing the Horticultural Crops Regulations (2020) to make them more responsive to the realities of today’s export-driven horticulture. He also announced plans to review KEPHIS fees, which growers and exporters say have increased the cost of compliance.

Another priority, the Cabinet Secretary said, is the reduction of post-harvest losses and improvement of logistics to increase the shelf life of flowers and reduce waste, especially for export produce.

“We are also looking at ways to streamline logistics and reduce post-harvest losses, which remain a major concern for producers and exporters,” Kagwe said.

He further noted that the government is working to promote the use of digital technologies to enhance traceability, improve production planning, and expand market access through e-certification and online trade platforms.

The floriculture sector is a major contributor to Kenya’s economy, accounting for over 53 percent of horticulture export earnings. In 2024, the industry exported 102,475 tonnes of cut flowers valued at KSh72.1 billion.

Industry stakeholders have welcomed the government’s reassurances but emphasize that continued support and enforcement are key to sustaining market access and maintaining Kenya’s competitiveness.