KENYA’S POSITION ON PESTICIDES IN TEA

1. KENYA’S POSITION ON PESTICIDES IN TEA INTERSESSIONALMEETING OF THE INTERGOVERMENTAL GROUP ON TEA MOMBASA KENYA 18th -19th July 2011 TEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF KENYA

2. Background information • Setting of MRLs is currently an integral part of food safety to protect consumer health. • A default limit of 0.01mg/kg is imposed where an agricultural chemical is not authorized in the countries importing commodity; or MRL limits are set based on GAP and ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) levels of chemical toxicological data. • Codex Alimentarius Commission was established to safeguard food safety & trade- Kenya benefits from codex MRL standards- Kenya Standard KS 65-2009 adopted Codex limits for heavy metals in Black tea. Tea Research Foundation

3. Minimization of pesticide contamination in Kenyan Tea • A very small (less than 0.2 percent) area of the total planted area with tea in Kenya is affected by pests and diseases. The pests and diseases are also very minor (not of economic sigificance) • The pests includes; tea mites (red crevice mites, red spider mites and purple mites), scale insects, tea weevils, tea mosquito bug and chafer grubs. • Diseases include; Hypoxlon serpens-wood rot and Armillaria spp.-root rot. • Level of crop losses is minimal and below economic injury level Tea Research Foundation

4. Measures taken to contain pests and diseases below economic injury level in Kenya includes; • Regular Pest and disease surveillance through field visits. • Conservation and utilization of indigenous natural enemies to benefit from the law of natural control. • Adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system where pest and disease problems are remedied mainly by cultural practices. • Developing and availing pest and disease resistant/tolerant tea varieties. • Management of weeds through manual operation. Tea Research Foundation

5. Pest Control Products regulation in Kenya • The national regulatory body-Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) collaborates with the TRFK on evaluation of pest control products (PCP) for use in tea. • Products being evaluated in the event that their use will in future be necessary, are products such as botanicals (plant based products), biological agents such as entomopathogenic or antagonistic fungi and petroleum based oils. None of these are synthetic chemicals. • Farmers are trained on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and on need for adherence on the same. • Consequently, Kenyan teas are pesticide free. • Recent monitoring by TRFK of East African teas for presence of heavy metals and toxic elements has not found the levels to be above the stipulated limits Tea Research Foundation

6. Kenya’s Position on MRL • Use of pesticides in tea production should be discouraged. • We advocate for continuous consultation and dialogue among all stakeholders of tea in the world to exchange ideas and experiences on issues regarding management of pests and diseases and on MRLs, heavy metals, toxic elements, harmful microorganism and mycotoxins. • Setting of MRLs should be informed by scientific data derived from properly designed and controlled trials as per FAO, 1990 guidelines • Setting of MRLs should be based on the tea liquor since most of the tea is used as a beverage. • Pest management practices in tea should embrace IPM strategies. • All producer countries should develop, implement and enforce Codes of practice that will ensure safe tea products. Tea Research Foundation

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