As Ukrainian conflict continues to disrupt global food imports, Kenya gives okay for farmers to import GMO cotton seed, a first for the country

At least 10 manufacturers including Bidco East Africa have been allowed to import 28 million kilogrammes of genetically modified organism (GMO) cotton seed for processing of animal feeds, marking the first time that Kenya has allowed such imports for processing purposes.

Treasury Cabinet secretary Ukur Yatani said the manufacturers will be allowed to ship in the product that is fully GMO but to be used only for the processing of animal feeds.

Kenya had placed a ban on imports of GMO products in 2012. The country has only been allowing shipping in of these products for research purposes only.

The Treasury has also allowed 31 millers in total to import 3.8 million bags of yellow maize with minimal traces of GMO that has been capped at 0.9 percent.

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The new requirement is a reversal from the previous directive that would only allow millers to ship in yellow maize that is 100 percent non-GMO.

The relaxation on rules comes as a reprieve to millers who have been struggling with a shortage of raw material as they could not import the commodity citing lack of pure non-GMO maize in the world market.

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