'600 Pak rice containers stuck up at Kenyan ports'
The containers are being inspected against phytosanitary standards and physical characteristics
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – As many as 600 containers of Pakistani rice are stuck up at Kenyan customs clearance points.
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Chairman Sameeullah Chaudhry said that the Kenya Bureau of standards and customs have subjected the containers under scrutiny and 100% verification – this is unfair considering the CoCs are in order – the full verification and sampling of Rice containers reaching Mombasa, Kenya port has commenced since August. This despite appropriate certificate of conformity at the load port by providing a “clean bill of health” by agencies recommended by KEBS i.e. SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas etc.
The containers are being inspected against phytosanitary standards and physical characteristics (Brokens and Damage). The stuck containers causing heavy demurrages and detention and therefore, landing cost of Pakistani Rice increasing day by day.
Unfortunately, the Kenyan authorities don’t have the backend infrastructure to expedite the exercise. They have only one lab in Nairobi to do the heavy metal tests whereas our cargo is stuck in Mombasa. This is delaying the testing processes to confirm compliances, he added.
On one hand phytosanitary conditions (Aflatoxin, Pesticides & Microbiology) are tested in Nairobi and on the other hand the broken percentage is verified in Mombasa. Rice is still not allowed to enter into Kenya based on 2%-5% higher broken.
For us at reap, it’s a matter of great concern because in agriculture commodity, 2% is considered insignificant variation, said Sameeullah Ch. Broken is considered a grain that is 3/4 or less than its original length i.e. in case of IRRI 4.5mm but Kenyan customs is taking into account 3/4 or more as broken including Tip Broken i.e. 5.5mm or lower being regarded as Broken.
This has jeopardize our Rice Exports to Kenya, we want level playing field but seems Kenyan authorities have decided otherwise. Despite the intervention by Pakistan High Commission and Commercial Councilor delivering their best to resolve the crisis but Kenyan Inspection isn’t co-operating at all. Kenya is considered as Single country biggest market for Pakistan Rice Products and we can’t afford to lose this market.
The Reap delegation headed by Senior Member and Ex-Chairman, is in Kenya and has met with Kenya Bureau of standard officials and along with Pakistan Commercial Counselor Zahid Qadeer but the problem seems to aggravate as authorities in Nairobi, Kenya have not instructed their counterparts in Mombasa to come to a resolution by re-sampling & analysis of the containers in their presence. This is highly unjustified step by Kenyan Authorities as told by chairman reap.
The scrutiny is not confined to containers that are lying at port/CFS’s. Warehoused cargo which has already obtained final release from customs & clean bills of health by KEBS, Port Health, KEPHIS and Radiation is undergoing multiagency testing as well. The agents of the aforementioned enforcing bodies inspect our warehouses to retrieve samples for cargo which has already passed all the pertinent tests to obtain final release from customs.
Pakistan is second biggest importer of Kenyan Tea and we have trade imbalance with them. Government of Pakistan has always provided level playing field to Kenyan Tea Exporters for marketing their valued product in Pakistan and expect the same from Kenyan Government. A better step would be to allow importation and sampling be performed at buyers’ warehouses for conformances before commodity is allowed to sell in commercial market.
The sampling methodology and mechanism should be fairly determined to give confidence to members that its not Technical Barrier to restrict imports and limit our rice market. The current activity seems carrying vested interests by restricting our Rice market in Kenya. Prime Minister, Imran Khan, already urged in speech that we will have reciprocal ties with all nations, give respect get one, give level playing field and get same in return but the message should be clearly given to Kenyan Foreign Office straight and blunt.
Just to remind that in February 2018, Kenyan authorities sealed warehouses of Pakistan Rice Importers and arrested Pakistani Rice Marketers based on allegation of Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Fake Passport, Fake Visa without evidence. Then Ambassador of Pakistan in Kenya had successful meeting with Kenyan officials on the fake charges of Terrorism raised on Pakistani Rice Businessmen in Kenya and in turn all were released.
Sameeullah demanded that reciprocal protection may be sought for Kenyan Products destined to Pakistan Market. Our consumer health and protection is equally important and we must take reciprocal measures to protect our consumers from any Inferior quality Kenyan Products being imported in Pakistan. Until, matter isn’t tackled at Foreign Office Level, Pakistan risks to lose out bigger share of our Rice Exports (475,000 Tons - 12% of Total Exports) in turn would enhance our Trade Deficit and Imbalance.
