The government has released a complete list of official charges, requirements, and timelines for food imports, exports, and other food crop services, following the launch of a service charter by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
The service charter, issued by the AFA Food Crops Directorate on March 31, 2026, outlines the costs that traders, farmers, processors, and exporters must pay for licenses, permits, inspections, and certifications.
It also details the duration of each service, aiming to improve transparency and reduce disputes over fees and delays.
Under the charter, issuing an import permit requires a pre-shipment approval letter, a commercial invoice, and a certificate of origin.
Govt List Official Charges for Food Imports and Exports
According to the service charter, charges depend on the e size of the consignment. Imports of up to 34,000 kilogrammes attract a fee of Ksh3,000.
Consignments between 34,001 and 280,000 kilogrammes are charged at Ksh0.15 per kilogramme, while imports above 280,000 kilogrammes are charged at Ksh0.01 per kilogramme.
AFA stated that import permits will be issued within one day.
The institution further added that inspection of consignments for cargo release is done at no cost and must be completed within two hours.
Traders are required to provide a declaration form, a food crops permit, a certificate of conformity, and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) entry documents.
Exporters of Irish potatoes are required to obtain an annual export licence at a cost of Ksh20,000.
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The application process takes 14 days and requires company registration documents, a KRA PIN, a tax compliance certificate, details on the types and volumes of crops handled, a valid county business permit, and company ownership documents.
An annual import licence for Irish potatoes costs Ksh50,000 and is processed within 14 working days.
Applicants must submit company registration documents, a KRA PIN, a tax compliance certificate, details of crops handled, and a valid county business permit.
Respective Certification Fees
AFA also charges Ksh30,000 for an import or export registration certificate.
This certification requires 14 business days and is mandatory for companies involved in food crop trade.
According to the govt, warehouses that handle food crops must obtain a certificate of conformity.
Charges are based on capacity and are set per 50-kilogramme bags.
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Warehouses with less than 5,000 bags pay Ksh2,000, while those handling up to 10,000 bags pay Ksh3,000.
Facilities holding more than 20,000 bags are charged Ksh15,000, while large silo complexes pay up to Ksh25,000, with a processing time of 14 working days.
Certification for new food-crop processing plants is free but requires extensive documentation, including plant design and layout, NEMA approval, feasibility studies, water-source declarations, and proof of raw-material sources.
Approval for the certification of new food crop processing plants takes 14 days.
Processors of cereals, legumes, roots, and tubers must renew their certificates of conformity.
Charges range from Ksh2,000 to Ksh20,000 depending on processing capacity. Renewal applications are processed within 14 working days.
Certificates of conformity for exports are charged based on consignment size, with fees starting at Ksh 3,000 for shipments up to 34,000 kilograms.
Large-scale growers register at a fee of Ksh1,000, and approval takes 14 days.
Registration of grower associations costs Ksh1,000, while marketing agents pay Ksh3,000.
C60 approvals for purchasing allocated local wheat quotas are free and take five business days.
Market price data, market linkage services, and crop gross margin information are provided free of charge.
AFA states that access to information and public complaints are free of charge, with complaints acknowledged within seven days and resolved within 30 days.
The authority states that the charter obligates its officers to be courteous and provide excellent service, offering clear channels for reporting misconduct or delays.
