DG SANTE Conducts Audit of Kenya’s Phytosanitary Controls for Cut Flowers and Plant Cuttings Exported to the EU
The Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) of the European Union on 6th October 2025 commenced an audit of how the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is implementing the System Approach for the management of False Codling Moth (FCM) in cut roses, alongside a review of compliance processes for unrooted cuttings of calibrachoa, petunia, and their hybrids already approved for export to the EU market.
DG SANTE is the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Union (EU). It carries out audits in countries that export plants and plant products to the EU to ensure that official control systems are effective in preventing the introduction of pests and diseases that could threaten agriculture or the environment in Europe.
For Kenya, this audit provides the EU with assurance that KEPHIS, as the National Plant Protection Organization, is implementing the required phytosanitary measures and that exports such as cut flowers and unrooted cuttings meet EU import standards. Successful audits are important because they safeguard Kenya’s continued access to the EU market, protect its reputation as a reliable trading partner, and reinforce the country’s compliance with international plant health and trade requirements.
The audit focuses on evaluating how KEPHIS, as Kenya’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), oversees and enforces phytosanitary controls designed to safeguard the integrity of Kenya’s horticultural exports. Specifically, the mission is assessing the effectiveness of Kenya’s System Approach, a comprehensive pest-risk management framework that integrates pest surveillance, greenhouse integrity, inspection procedures, record-keeping, and traceability mechanisms throughout the production and export chain.
For plant cuttings, the EU has already granted Kenya export approval. The auditors are therefore verifying compliance with the approved protocols and confirming that appropriate phytosanitary safeguards remain in place to ensure exported cuttings are free from pests and meet EU import standards. This exercise provides confidence to both regulators and importers that Kenya’s export systems are robust and that phytosanitary risks are effectively managed.
The mission began with field visits in Thika, followed by Naivasha, Nakuru, and Isinya, where the auditors are visiting farms to review the application of the System Approach for FCM, including pest monitoring, greenhouse management, and pre-export inspection processes. The team will also assess exit point inspections at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and conduct laboratory and stakeholder meetings at KEPHIS Muguga and Headquarters.
This audit comes at a critical time as Kenya consolidates its reputation as a trusted global supplier of safe and high-quality plant products while expanding into propagation material exports. Through continued collaboration between KEPHIS, the EU Mission, and industry stakeholders, the process strengthens market confidence, enhances compliance systems, and reinforces Kenya’s leadership in science-based regulation and safe trade.
In 2024, Kenya’s flower industry generated KES 108 billion (approximately USD 835 million) in export revenue, up from 2023, underscoring its role as one of the country’s top foreign exchange earners. KEPHIS facilitated over 573,000 consignments of agricultural exports, including 240,000 tons of fresh-cut flowers, contributing to an estimated KES 136 billion in total horticultural export value. The floriculture sector currently supports over 200,000 direct jobs and millions of dependants across the value chain.
The DG SANTE audit reaffirms Kenya’s steadfast commitment to international phytosanitary standards, transparent regulatory systems, and science-led export certification, ensuring that Kenyan floriculture products continue to meet and exceed global market requirements. The mission is set to end today 16th October 2025 with a review meeting at the KEPHIS Headquarters in Nairobi.
