US In Uproar After Kenya Changes Tune on Importation of Bull Semen,
US In Uproar After Kenya Changes Tune on Importation of Bull Semen: United States government in its 2024 National Trade Estimates Report on foreign trade barriers complained that Kenya had gone back on their word, to import Bovine Semen.
Note: Bovine is a cattle species which is popular in the United States.
According to the report, this change of tune has affected market access for that particular cattle breed.
The Kenya’s Office of the Director of Veterinary Services (DVS) in 2020 signed an agreement with the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to start importation of the breed to Kenya.
Subsequently, Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture signed veterinary requirements and certificate attestation for the importation of bovine embryos from the United States.
The US stated,”In May 2020, however, the DVS proposed additional requirements that went beyond those previously agreed by the two agencies,”
“Kenya imposes standards that are overly restrictive for bovine semen imports, precluding actual market access for most U.S. bovine semen for dairy cattle,” they added.
On their part, Ministry of Agriculture has laid out over 10 requirements on US, before they allow importation of the breed.
Some of the requirements are; proof that the semen does not contain the following diseases; Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Enzootic Bovine Leucosis (EBL), Rift Valley Fever (RVF), Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis/ Infectious Pustular Vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV), Tuberculosis, Leptospirosis, Bovine genital campylobacteriosis, and Blue tongue.