Kenya Flower Council F.O.S.S. gains SSCI recognition

KENYA – The Kenya Flower Council’s Flowers and Ornamentals Sustainability Standard, known as F.O.S.S., has received official recognition from the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI), marking a key step for Kenya’s flower export sector.

The Sustainable Global Forum confirmed the decision on January 22, 2026, saying the approval gives buyers added confidence when checking social and environmental practices at farm level. SSCI placed F.O.S.S. under its Primary Production social compliance scope after a detailed review.

SSCI recognition allows international buyers to rely on F.O.S.S. as a verified scheme when assessing risk and compliance in flower supply chains. The process reviewed governance, labour rules, and farm management practices against global criteria.

Kenya ranks among the world’s top exporters of cut flowers. The sector earned about US$835 million last year and relies on a wide base of growers and exporters, who make up around 80 percent of the industry. F.O.S.S. acts as a shared reference that sets rules on worker welfare, environmental care, and good farm practice.

Didier Bergeret, Director of Sustainability at the Consumer Goods Forum, said the approval improves trust in sourcing data. “SSCI recognition strengthens the reliability of the information buyers use when making responsible sourcing decisions,” he said. “It also gives clearer insight into social compliance in one of the world’s most important flower producing regions.”

Industry response in Kenya

Kenya Flower Council Chief Executive Officer Clement Tulezi welcomed the outcome and credited member farms for their effort. “This recognition reflects the steady work our growers have done to meet clear and strict standards,” he said. “It also supports trust in Kenya as a supplier that takes worker safety and fair treatment seriously.”

F.O.S.S. currently covers more than 160,000 workers across flower farms in Kenya. The standard checks labour conditions, environmental care, and farm operations, giving buyers a clear basis for due diligence.

The decision follows a public consultation that SSCI opened in October 2025 on F.O.S.S. and the Dutch based MPS Socially Qualified standard. That process invited growers, exporters, retailers, and other groups to comment on independent assessments.

SSCI said the consultation helped improve transparency and accuracy in its reviews. A Kenya Flower Council spokesperson at the time said stakeholder feedback played an important role in keeping standards credible and effective.

SSCI has now recognised nine schemes, with others still under review. For Kenya’s flower industry, the F.O.S.S. approval adds weight to efforts to meet buyer checks in markets that place growing focus on clear social and environmental records.

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