State suspends Rainforest Alliance audits in tea sector

Rainforest Alliance audits and certifications have been suspended in all tea factories.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Kipronoh Rono, in a circular dated May 12, ordered the suspension of the multi-million programme after it emerged that the burden of implementation was bestowed on the smallholder tea factories.

The review was aimed at easing the doing business in the tea sector.

In a circular, the PS ordered all the tea factories to stop further audit and certification processes with the Rainforest Alliance pending further joint resolution on the matter.

“It was noted that the burden of implementation of the programme has been vested in the tea factories, thus cascading to the tea growers,” said the PS.

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  State suspends Rainforest Alliance audits in tea sector

He further added that the cost could be met by the customers

The circular is copied to Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwa, Tea Board of Kenya Chairman Ndung’u Gathinji, and KTDA Holding Chairman Chege Kirundi, among others.

Peter Karomo, an agriculture value chain expert, says tea and coffee factories have been registered through the Rainforest Alliance, a programme that has helped many access markets for their produce.

In Kenya, 54 tea factories are Rainforest Alliance certified and meet international standards, the same also assists traceability of the product in the market.

“The government should tread carefully as some of the customers buying Kenya's tea are certified by the organisation,” said Karomo.