Abdulsamad Ali And Anthony Kitimo
27 August 2008
Nairobi — No sugar imports will be allowed into the country until new regulations are gazetted, the Government said on Wednesday.
Importers have opposed the rules, which are meant to conform to the Comesa Treaty's non-tariff barriers policy.
Agriculture Minister William Ruto said that the new regulations would be gazetted "soon".
The announcement comes in the wake of fears that the country could be headed for a shortage of sugar. The Kenya Sugar Board has written to the ministry of Agriculture to warn of an impending shortage.
But sugar millers have insisted that they have enough stocks.
Mr Ruto said some 8,000 tonnes of sugar at the port that are awaiting clearance by the Kenya Revenue Authority would be released soon.
The sugar was imported just days before the minister announced a ban on sugar importation. The sugar board followed this with a public notice requiring importers to declare their consignments for clearance.
Comesa regulations
"The consignment must have credible documentation to ensure they meet Comesa regulations before they are discharged," Mr Ruto said on Wednesday after he toured several stands at the Mombasa International Show.
The minister said every consignment will be inspected and documented to lock out unscrupulous businessmen.
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