Kebs develops practice code for hygienic production, distribution of miraa

The Kenya Bureau of Standards has approved a new code of practice to guide sanitary production and distribution of miraa produce in the country.

Kebs Managing Director, Bernard Njiraini, said the code of practice will ensure hygienic production and handling from the farms to final distribution channels.

"Additionally, the new guidelines will be used by the sector regulators for registration and certification of operators along the entire value chain. This will facilitate businesses to meet market and pre-export sanitary and phytosanitary requirements," Njiraini said.

The new Kenya National Workshop Agreement (KNWA) - KNWA 2940: 2021, Miraa (Khat) industry Code of practice requires operators in the miraa supply value chain including, miraa growers, propagators, aggregators, transporters, shippers and cargo handlers to observe hygiene practices and ensure sanitary operations

Other codes of practice are to comply with food packaging requirements,  keep relevant records and labelling system that demonstrate traceability, while also adhering to relevant regulations including worker’s health, safety and welfare.

Dating back to the pre-colonial time and mostly grown in Meru County and more recently in Embu County, miraa was approved as a cash crop in Kenya through the Crop Act 2013 no. 16 with an amendment in 2016.

"However, there have been concerns raised regarding psychological dependence or addiction resulting from long-term use of miraa leading to banning of the crop in some countries," Njiraini added.

Miraa is known to contain Cathaine and Cathionine which are compounds classified and prohibited under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act CAP 245 of 1994.

Njiraini added that other challenges being experienced in the sector include the unhygienic handling of Miraa and Miraa products posing safety risks to consumers.

The code of practice was developed in consultation with the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and Enterprise Development (MoITED), the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and Cooperatives - Crop Directorate.

Others are Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), Pharmacy and Poisons Boards (PPB), Government Chemist, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), among other stakeholders.