KENAS opens GLOBALG.A.P accreditation to strengthen Kenya’s food export standards

KENYA – Kenya’s agricultural sector has received a boost following the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS)’s announcement that it is now accepting applications for GLOBALG.A.P accreditation under ISO/IEC 17065.

This move is expected to help certification bodies and agribusinesses meet international market requirements, particularly around food safety, sustainability, and traceability.

GLOBALG.A.P, originally launched as EUREPGAP in the late 1990s by European retailers, is one of the most widely recognized certification standards in the global food industry.

The GLOBALG.A.P standard covers a wide range of areas including food safety, worker health and safety, environmental protection, and traceability. It applies to producers in fruits and vegetables, aquaculture, livestock, and floriculture.

“We’re excited to announce that KENAS is now accepting applications for GLOBALG.A.P (Good Agricultural Practices) accreditation under ISO/IEC 17065,” the agency said in a public statement. “This new accreditation scheme is a game changer for Kenya’s agricultural sector.”

Accreditation allows certified producers to stand out in the global market, especially in Europe where GLOBALG.A.P compliance is often a buyer requirement.

KENAS, as the National Accreditation Body for Kenya, plays a central role in this process by ensuring that certification bodies operate to international norms.

“As the largest accreditor in Eastern Africa, we assess and accredit organizations that provide certification, medical testing, inspection, calibration, and other conformity assessment services,” KENAS stated.

“This accreditation opens doors for more of our local certification bodies to support farms and agribusinesses as they aim for global market access.”

Global recognition and local relevance

According to the latest figures, GLOBALG.A.P certification now covers over 190,000 producers in 135 countries.

The certified areas stretch across 4.5 million hectares of plant production. In aquaculture, the scheme covers more than 2.8 million tons of market-ready products each year.

Each certified producer is assigned a unique GLOBALG.A.P Number (GGN), which helps with traceability and product recall procedures — a growing concern among international buyers.

For Kenya, the move comes at a time when demand for safe and traceable food exports is rising. Certification under GLOBALG.A.P is voluntary but often considered essential for export-oriented farms.

KENAS is also expanding its scope in other sectors. In June 2025, the body launched a new accreditation program focused on greenhouse gas (GHG) validation and verification.

This step is aligned with Kenya’s climate commitments and is meant to support credible emissions tracking among organizations.

“With increasing pressure on companies to prove their environmental performance, this GHG program will help bring transparency to emissions reporting,” KENAS noted.

These changes reflect growing attention to quality, safety, and environmental responsibility across Kenya’s export value chains.

By opening up access to GLOBALG.A.P and GHG accreditation, KENAS is helping position Kenyan producers and service providers for wider international acceptance.

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