How to import flowers from Kenya

There are various rules and regulations or procedures that one must follow if he/she wants to import flowers from Kenya. All countries are subject to rules and regulations governing importation and exportation of products. In Kenya these regulations are aimed at protecting the agricultural sector which is the backbone of Kenya’s economy.

Import Flowers from Kenya

The first step in the process of importing flowers is identifying the product that you want to import. It is important to get quality products from the right company. The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) offers inspectorate service ensuring that the flowers to be exported meet the current phytosanitary requirements of the importing country.

The importation process mostly affects the exporter as they have to ensure that the goods they export are of good quality in order to please the importer. Kenya therefore ensures that the exporters of flowers meet these requirements by all means.

Regulations that govern how to import of flowers from Kenya

The companies exporting these flowers are subject to quite a number of regulations to ensure that the importing countries receive quality products. These regulations include

·         Ascertaining the relevant phytosanitary requirements of the importing country.

      Verifying through inspection that the consignment meets these requirements.

      The companies should have a phytosanitary certificate. This certificate is issued by KEPHIS and to get this certificate, companies must meet the phytosanitary requirement of from the importing country.

·         All flowers for export must meet the gazetted minimum and be accompanied by the relevant certificates.

Trade requirements of Kenya

The exporter must also meet the trade requirements of Kenya which include;

·         The exporter must look for booking space in a vessel or aircraft to carry the cargo. This can be four to six weeks before the vessel arrives at the port of Mombasa.

·         The exporter will also book for a container if the flowers are to be transported by sea way in advance.

·         Once the flowers are ready to be packed into the container, the exporter should have prepared the packing list and the commercial invoice.

·         The exporter then ensures that the export goods are verified by the customs office who also takes a photograph of the good while they are in the warehouse.

·         Once the container is picked the exporter through the clearing agent proceeds to lodge the documents into the samba system for customs to process and release the goods for export.

·         The exporter then collects the bill of lading from the shipping agent once the clearing agent delivers the goods to the shipping line and they are accepted.

·         The exporter will then take all the export documents and send them to the bank.

There are forms known as Euro 1 and GSP forms that are used to determine the origin of goods and to prove that the importing country has a bilateral agreement that allows duty free entry into the receiving country.

For international companies that are limited in their scope and abilities, they use of importing agents who facilitate the process of importing from Kenya.

The importer applies for the Importer Declaration Form (IDF) from their respective countries. This state out the valuation of the goods .The most important requirement for a country to import flowers from Kenya is the right documentation including the permit. This documents show the requirements of the agreement between this countries and the terms of trade.

For any country or individual who wishes to venture into the flower trade and export or import flowers from Kenya, the above are some of the processes that they will have to undertake for them to achieve their goals.