OVERVIEW OF KEPHIS1

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service

(www.kephis.org)

Outline

Introduction to KEPHIS, Vision and Mission

Functions of KEPHIS Legal Framework governing operations KEPHIS Offices

2

INTRODUCTION:

KEPHIS is a state corporation in the Ministry of Agriculture mandated to offer regulatory services in the agricultural sector.

3

VISION 

MISSION 

The Lead Regulator and Facilitator of Globally Competitive Agriculture

To Provide a Science Based Regulatory Service by Assuring the Quality of

Agricultural Inputs and Produce to Promote Food Security and Sustainable

development

Mandates of KEPHIS – Broadly Phytosanitary Certification Seed Certification Plant Variety Protection Food safety regulation in horticulture

– MRLS and Contaminants testing. Regulation of quality of agro-inputs

e.g. Fertilizers Environmental monitoring for

contaminants.

5

Phytosanitary Services

KEPHIS ensures that planting material is free from pests and diseases and that all imported and exported plant products are of

high quality and meet international standards of health and purity.

KEPHIS also offers diagnostic services for plant disease through its plant health clinic.

Phytosanitary Inspection of Export products

8

Phytosanitary Inspection of Export products/3

Plant Import Permit

Phytosanitary Certificate

Certificate of Conformity

Seed Certification

KEPHIS undertakes seed certification by conducting rigorous tests all through the process - from the seed field to the seed stockist.

KEPHIS thus ensures that farmers have access to adequate amounts of certified seed of the best performing varieties thereby promoting

agricultural productivity and sustainable growth.

Field certification of seed potatoField certification of seed beans

Plant Variety Protection

KEPHIS performs rigorous testing of new varieties for their value for cultivation and use (VCU) thus encouraging breeders to develop

and protect their new varieties.

This ensures that farmers have access to the most suitable and superior varieties for maximum productivity as the country looks

forward to attainment of Vision 2030.  

Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (ACL)

KEPHIS, ACL offers quality assurances services for Agricultural Produce and in-puts through:-

Pesticides residue analysis in agricultural commodities. KEPHIS is implementing a pesticide residue monitoring plan for esport products which is Organized in two levels:-

-Point of exit (JKIA)-Production (Field)

The target is all exported. The design of the sampling is based on risk analysis.May 2, 2023www.kephis.org

11

KEPHIS, ACL Services

Analysis for heavy metals in food products.

Environmental sample analysis: soil, water, and animal tissue.

Pesticide formulations to determine active ingredients. Soil Analysis and advisory services to farmers on appropriate use of fertilizers

Water analysis for irrigation suitability

May 2, 2023www.kephis.org

12

KEPHIS, ACL Services

Analysis of Agro-inputs: fertilizers, foliar feeds and organic manure.

Animal feed analysis

KEPHIS ACL is accredited to ISO 17025/IEC: 2005 by SANAS as testing laboratory.

 

May 2, 2023www.kephis.org

13

Analytical Chemistry Services

KEPHIS provides quality testing and certification services for various Agro inputs including Agro chemicals and

Fertilizers 

Testing of Soil and Irrigation Water

KEPHIS ensures that farmers can have their soil and irrigation water tested for suitability in agricultural use.

The use of these services ensures that farmers use optimum quantities of the right kind of fertilizer

Legal instruments guiding KEPHIS Operations Laws of Kenya:- Seeds and plant varieties

Act Cap 326, The plant protection Act Cap 324 among others

Supported by a number of International Instruments such as -:

UPOV Convention, (Union for the Protection of Plant Varieties)

OECD seed schemes (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development),

IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention)

CBD and the Cartagena protocol on Biosafety etc

16

17

For more information, please contactThe Managing DirectorKenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service

(KEPHIS)PO Box 49592-00100NAIROBI020-3597201/2/3 | 3536171/20722516221 | 0723786779 | 0733874274 |

0734874141

Email: director@kephis.orgwww.kephis.org

END

Thank You

19