G/SPS/N/KEN/137  
 
27 October 2020  
(20-7482) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  KENYA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  N/A 
2. Agency responsible:  KENYA PLANT HEALTH INSPECTORATE SERVICE (KEPHIS)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Seed for sowing - amendment of the Tomato and capsicum Schedule 
to include Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Updating import conditions for Tomato and capsicum 
imports to include Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)  Language(s): English . 
Number of pages: 2 
6. Description of content:  Amendment of import conditions for tomato and Capsicum 
imports to include tomato brown rugose fruit VIRUS (ToBRFV)  
The amendment describes the import conditions to certify the absence of Tomato brown 
rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in the seed of paprika ( Capsicum annuum ) and tomato 
(Solanum lycopersicum ) in addition to mandatory testing requirement for the pest.  
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is listed as a quarantine pest of tomato and 
capsicum in Kenya. The virus is a threat to countries importing seeds of tomato and 
capsicum. ToBRFV affects all growth stages of Capsicum annum  (bell pepper) and 
Solanum lycopersicum  (tomato); both in the Solanaceae  family. It is spread through seed 
from infected to non -infected areas.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  To prevent the 
introduction into Kenya of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) on tomato and 
capsicum on seed for sowing from all countr ies. The following pathway will now require 
regulation:  
− Seed for sowing -the schedule for tomato and capsicum is amended with new 
requirements for tomato brown rugose fruit VIRUS (ToBRFV).  
− This virus has been identified as an emerging risk with current spr ead into 
previously disease free trading areas. The pathway must now meet the 
requirements as specified in the relevant import standard.  G/SPS/N/KEN/137  
 
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  9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : 
− International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 
11, 17, 19 and 27 DP24.  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
11 November 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service  
P. O. Box: 49592 -00100 Nairobi  
Tel: +(254) 020 661 8000  
Email: kephisinfo@kephis.org  or  
 director@kephis.org   
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service P. O. Box: 49592 -00100 Nairobi  
Tel: +(254) 020 661 8000  
Email: kephisinfo@kephis.org  or  
 director@kephis.org