Kenya to export meat products to South Africa starting December

Kenya will now be able to export meat products to South Africa from next month, President William Ruto has said.

Kenya has lifted the ban that has been in existence for the last 10 years.

Speaking during the annual general meeting of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ruto made the announcement a day after meeting South African President Cyril Ramaophosa who was in the country for a two-day State visit.

"We not only unlocked matters to do with travel, but we also eliminated barriers. We've had a 10-year ban on our meat products accessing the South African market. By December 2022, the ban will be lifted so that our products can access the South African market," Ruto said.

Kenya banned the importation and sale of cold processed meat from South Africa, citing an outbreak of Listeriosis poisoning that claimed more than 180 lives.

The outbreak was associated with products from enterprises food production and rainbow chicken limited whose products include; Bokkie, Lifestyle, Miellekip, Polony, Russian and Viennas.

The ban was also effected by other African countries including Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, and Zambia.

Presently, Kenya has a challenge in selling some of its agricultural products that include tea, pineapples, avocados issue being that the two countries are operating on different vital sanitary requirements.