A proposed legislation before the Senate House seeks to ban miraa traders from transporting the crop in proboxes, motorcycles or pick-ups.
The proposed regulations will also require a farmer of miraa to have a valid license to farm, sell and export the product.
“A person shall not establish or operate a commercial miraa nursery unless the person has a valid license issued by the respective county government. A person who seeks to establish or operate a commercial miraa nursery shall apply to the respective County Government for a license as set out in the first schedule,” reads part of the regulation.
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The Crops (Miraa) Regulations 2023, developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, would highly control packaging, harvesting, post-harvesting and transportation of the produce. This aims to ensure the crop maintains its original quality at harvest as the state explores outside markets for miraa.
The regulation states that vessels to be used in the transportation of miraa shall be built and equipped to ensure maintenance of optimal temperatures and hygiene to prevent contamination, spoilage and damage of miraa.
“The packaging for miraa shall be designed to suit the transport handling system and shall provide aeration to the produce so as to maintain optimum temperatures and humidity, maintain produce integrity by protecting them from physical damage,” reads part of the regulation.
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The regulation also proposes that miraa shall not be transported together with other farm produce which may contaminate it and have adverse effects on its quality. Consequently, the regulation further says that any produce handling facility such as packing house, store, collection centre or working area shall be kept free of waste material.
The regulation also states that the miraa produced in the field holding facility shall be randomly sampled ,tested, and analyzed by the Authority in collaboration with County Governments and relevant agencies from time to time to ensure conformity to the miraa industry-Code of Practice.
“The Authority from time to time shall inspect the site and produce to ensure conformity to food safety and quality standards as prescribed in the miraa industry-Code of Practice,” reads part of the regulations.
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