The Food crops (cereals, pulses, roots & tubers) have been unregulated since independence. The department compliance and regulatory services in the food directorate play a leading role in sustainably developing and promoting the scheduled food crops through an effective regulatory framework. The regulations and their operational tools include;
The Crops (Irish Potato ) Regulations,2019; LEGAL NOTICE NO. 17
The Crops (Food Crops) Regulations,2019; LEGAL NOTICE NO. 217
Operational tools
Function
- Promote best practices by regulating the production, transportation, processing, marketing, grading, storage, collection, and warehousing of scheduled food crops produce and products
- Coordinate development and enforcement of regulations governing scheduled food crops.
- Registration and licensing of dealers in food crops value chains
- Facilitate international trade through export and import clearance
- Enforcement of standards in the food crops sub-sector in order to ensure food safety
- Conduct inspections and compliance audit for standards in stakeholder premises.
- Development and review of the food crops produce Standards and Codes of Practices in collaboration with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
- Carry out appropriate measures to ensure safety in the domestic food supply.
- Participate in the formulation of policies and guidelines for scheduled food crops.
- Capacity build County governments’ officers on matters relating to regulations and compliance to enable them to discharge their duties effectively
- Participation in codex committee meetings on matters related to agricultural policies and International standards on food crops produce and products.
- Checking and evaluation of conformity of the food product imports into the country.
- Promote self-regulation among the various categories of dealers along the value chain in line with relevant regulations