Kenyan mango exporters have been forbidden to mix mango and avocado shipments after the country’s Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA) issued a directive which tightened regulations to ensure the authenticity of mango export consignments.
The more rigorous scrutiny of the country’s mango exports follows a decision by the AFA to halt avocado shipments to safeguard the quality of produce to both domestic and international markets.
The new directive became effective on November 13 and requires a physical inspection of mango export consignments after concerns were expressed that some exporters had been blending mangoes with avocados for sea shipments, a violation of horticultural crop regulations.
The AFA notice stated: “It has come to our attention that, following the closure of the avocado harvesting season and export by sea, some exporters are mixing consignments of avocados and mangoes, which is against horticulture crop regulations.”
To comply with these regulations farmers are required to request physical inspections for export consignments and the AFA warned that failure to do so may result in the revocation of export licences.
The move comes as part of a broader initiative by the AFA to protect the quality and integrity of Kenyan horticultural exports.
This is particularly in the aftermath of the challenges posed by the practice of harvesting and exporting immature avocados, which has damaged the country’s export credibility, the AFA said.
