Kenya Customs clears hundreds of containers of Pakistani rice

KENYAN authorities have released hundreds of containers rice from Pakistan held at its port, after meeting with Pakistani rice exporters.

Last month, more than 800 containers of Pakistani rice, worth US$8 million, were seized by customs, who refused to release the cargo until the lab tests were completed to establish grading, reported the Pakistan Observer.

This came after Kenyan Customs introduced a policy to prevent rice imported into Kenya from being released at the port until lab tests were done before it received full clearance.

The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) sent a six-member delegation, to meet officials from the Kenya Bureau of Standards and the Kenya Revenue Authority and tell them about the huge financial losses they faced on account of demurrage, which ran to $300 to $500 per container, the report said.

"The delegation had successful negotiations with the concerned Kenyan authorities and the matter stands resolved, amicably," REAP said in a message to its members.

Source: SchedNet