Agriculture and Food Authority is responsible for regulating, developing, and promoting the nuts and oil crops sub-sector as per the Crops Act 2013, AFA Act 2013. The Crops (Nuts and Oil Crops) Regulations 2020, provides for levies on imports and exports of nuts and oil crops produce and products as prescribed in the Regulations.
On 14th February 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, through Legal Notice No. 26, amended the Crops (Nuts and Oil Crops) Regulations 2020 to align with Sections 101 and 102 of the Finance Act 2023. The amendment exempts nuts and oil crops produce and products imported by Export Processing Zones (EPZ) and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) based enterprises and originating from the customs territory (East Africa Community partner states), as defined in the Special Economic Zones Act and the Export Processing Zones Act, from paying the import levy. The EAC partner states are: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Rwanda, Federal Republic of Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, Republic of Uganda, and United Republic of Tanzania.
In reference to Section 32(2) of the Crops Act, 2013, this exemption will take effect from 17th April 2025. The Authority will provide guidance on implementation of this change on the KenTrade TFP portal before the effective date.
We urge all stakeholders to take note of these changes. For further clarification, please contact the Authority.
DIRECTOR GENERAL
16th April 2025
