US Complains After Kenya Changes Tune on Importation of Bull Semen
In the 2024 National Trade Estimates Report, the US government expressed dissatisfaction over Kenya’s reversal of a previous agreement to import bovine semen from the United States, citing it as a hindrance to trade relations.
Bovine is esteemed as a top-tier breed of cattle that enjoys popularity within the United States.
The USTR report emphasized that withdrawing from the agreement had limited the market entry for that specific breed of cattle.
In 2020, it came to light that the Office of the Director of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Kenya entered into a contract with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture, initiating the importation of this breed into Kenya.
Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture in Kenya has endorsed the veterinary specifications and certification authentication necessary for importing bovine embryos from the United States.
“In May 2020, however, the DVS proposed additional requirements that went beyond those previously agreed by the two agencies,” the US complained.
“Kenya imposes standards that are overly restrictive for bovine semen imports, precluding actual market access for most U.S. bovine semen for dairy cattle.”
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USTR believes that Kenya’s shift in stance has resulted in domestic producers, who don’t meet the same standards, now dominating the majority of the market.
The Biden administration disclosed that efforts were underway to address the deadlock through technical means.
According to documents reviewed by Gossipa2z.com, the Ministry of Agriculture places more than 10 conditions on American firms before permitting them to export bull semen to Kenya.
Certain prerequisites entail demonstrating that the semen is free from various ailments such as 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 Bluetongue.
“The bull(s) must have been continuously resident at the Artificial Insemination Center for at least 28 days before collection of the semen and in that time had not been used for natural mating,” the Ministry of Agriculture further adds.
Moreover, the donor bulls must be devoid of hereditary genetic abnormalities and have verified freedom from haplotypes that impact fertility.
US Complains After Kenya Changes Tune on Importation of Bull Semen