1) The term QUARANTINE means (Period of) isolation for people, animals, plants, etc. that may carry an infectious disease, until it is known that there is no danger of the disease, being passed on to others.
There is currently a quarantine on the movement of maize from Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Machakos, Makueni and Kitui districts as well as Loitokitok Division of Kajiado District to the rest of the country.
2) The quarantine regulations are based on:
i) The Plant Protection Act (quote highlights of the Act)
ii) Legal Notice No. 143 of 1991 which states that:Farmers and traders are allowed to move up to four thousands kilograms of maize anywhere in Kenya without an NCPB movement permit. The owners do not have to accompany the maize when it is being transported. This regulation does not apply to maize movement out of Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Machakos and Kitui Districts and Loitokitok Division of Kajiado District due to infestation of the greater grain borer.
3) In order to move maize from the area affected/covered by quarantine to another area, the following steps must be taken:
a) The maize and its containers must be treated using A.S. as detailed in Tables 1 and 2b) The maize must be inspected by the officer-in-charge of agriculture in the area of origin, who should recommend (or not recommend) to the DAO for issue of a phytosanitary certificate.
c) A phytosanitary certificate should be issued to the transporter by the DAO.
d) The transporter should display the duplicate copy of recommendation and original of phytosanitary certificate.
4) Traders of maize and maize containers are required to treat the maize and the containers with A.S. powder as detailed in Tables 1 and 2
Crop inspectors and other authorized officials of the MoA are supposed to inspect trading premises regularly. For that reason, all maize dealers in affected areas must display inspection record sheets.
