Kenya's flower farmers to access EU market duty-free from next month

Workers at Mugo Flowers Farm Ltd, Embu West sub-county pack the flowers ready for export to Europe. The move will see increased exports to the EU - creating more jobs. [PHOTOS:JOSEPH MUCHIRI]

NAIROBI: Flower farmers in Kenya could access the European market duty-free as early as next month. This is after the European Parliament and Council confirmed they do not object to the reinstatement of Kenya to the list of beneficiary countries in the so-called ‘EU Market Access Regulation’.

Kenya Flower Council, the industry lobby group, said with the approval, Kenya is now expected to be reinstated by end of the year to duty-free status for all flowers and floriculture products exported to the European Union. “This comes as a huge relief for Kenya’s floriculture sector and for all operators and businesses involved in the floriculture trade both in Kenya and in the EU particularly in view of the approaching peak sale season on Valentine’s Day,” Kenya Flower Council  Chief Executive Jane Ngige, said in a statement Thursday.