New KEBS Standards Miraa Sellers and Distributors Must Comply With

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has approved a new code of practice to guide sanitary production and distribution of miraa produce in the country.

The new Kenya National Works**p Agreement (KNWA) – KNWA 2940: 2021, Miraa (****) industry Code of practice requires operators in the miraa supply value chain including, miraa growers, propagators, aggregators, transporters, shippers and cargo ha***ers to observe hygiene practices, ensure sanitary operations, comply with food packaging requirements,  keep relevant records and labelling system that demonstrate traceability, while also adhering to relevant regulations including worker’s health, safety, and welfare.

“The code of practice w*** ensure hygienic production and ha***ing from the farms to final distribution channels. Additionally, the new guidelines w*** be used by the sector regulators for registration and certification of operators along the entire value chain. This w*** facilitate businesses to meet market and pre-export sanitary and phytosanitary requirements”, says Lt Col (Rtd.) Bernard Njiraini.

Dating back to the pre-colonial time and mostly grown in Meru County and more recently in Embu County, Miraa was approved as a cash crop in Kenya through the Crop Act 2013 no. 16 with an amendment in 2016.

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**wever, there have been concerns raised regarding ******logical dependence or ********* resulting from long-term use of Miraa leading to banning of the crop in some countries. Miraa is known to contain Cathaine and Cathionine which are compounds cl***if*** and prohibited under the ******** ***** and ******tropic Substances Act CAP 245 of 1994.

Other challenges being experienced in the sector include unhygienic ha***ing of Miraa and Miraa products posing safety risks to consu****.

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The code of practice was develo*** in consultation with the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and Enterprise Development (MoITED), the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives – Crop Directorate, Agriculture and Food Aut**rity (AFA), Pharmacy and ******s Boards (PPB), Government Chemist, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), among other stake**lders.