The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) announced that Kenyan farmers and exporters have gained access to China's market for dried chillies. This new market access was opened in October 2026, providing another export channel for local agricultural producers. The approval follows China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) Announcement No. 50 of 2026, issued on April 26. This announcement allows dried chillies from African countries with diplomatic relations with China to enter the Chinese market, provided exporters comply with prescribed import requirements.
To export dried chillies to China, farms and facilities must be registered with KEPHIS. This includes farms, production sites, drying facilities, processing plants, and packing houses involved in the export chain. Export processing and packing facilities must also be registered with China's customs authority. KEPHIS is responsible for inspecting and approving eligible facilities before they are submitted for registration with GACC. Every consignment must have a phytosanitary certificate issued by KEPHIS, confirming that the shipment has met the plant health requirements imposed by the importing country.
Exporters must maintain traceability systems showing where the chillies were grown and how they moved through the production and processing chain. The quality standards exporters must meet China's requirements cover both plant health and food safety. Exporters must observe Good Agricultural Practices and Integrated Pest Management measures, while keeping pest-monitoring records for at least two years. Dried chillies must comply with China's limits on pesticide residues, aflatoxin B1, and heavy metals.
The rules also prohibit Sudan dyes and require consignments to meet microbiological standards, including the absence of Salmonella. Moisture content must not exceed 13 per cent, a critical requirement for dried produce to prevent mould growth and compromise product quality during storage and transportation. Shipments must also be free from specified quarantine pests, including the khapra beetle, cowpea weevil, and common bean bruchid.
Packaging and labelling must comply with prescribed standards, and exporters are required to use clean and appropriate packaging materials. Farmers, processors, aggregators, packers, and exporters interested in the Chinese market should begin by engaging KEPHIS on registration, facility inspection, and certification procedures. Producers supplying export chains will need to maintain proper farm records and follow pest-control and handling practices that can be verified during inspections.
Processors and packers must ensure that drying, storage, and packaging operations maintain the required moisture and food-safety standards. Exporters will also need reliable buyers, consistent supply volumes, and arrangements for transporting the consignments to China. Market approval does not guarantee purchase orders, prices, or immediate commercial shipments. Kenyan producers will only benefit commercially when they can supply consistent volumes of dried chillies that meet China's plant-health, food-safety, and quality requirements.
The opening of the Chinese market adds dried chillies to the range of Kenyan agricultural products that can access China, providing an opportunity to expand production, local processing, and export earnings. It also creates room for investment in drying and packaging facilities, particularly in areas where farmers can organise production through cooperatives, aggregators, and established export businesses. Chilli farming is one of the most profitable commercial agribusinesses in Kenya, offering strong returns from both local markets and international exports.
Key points
- Kenyan farmers must register with KEPHIS and meet China's plant health and food safety requirements to export dried chillies to China.
- Exporters must maintain traceability systems and comply with China's limits on pesticide residues, aflatoxin B1, and heavy metals.
- The new market access provides an opportunity for Kenyan farmers to expand production, local processing, and export earnings.
