KEPHIS provides regulatory services for the agricultural sector in Kenya, including surveillance and diagnostics for maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND). They have established protocols and standards for MLND testing of seeds, conducted field surveys, and set up laboratory capacity for diagnostics. KEPHIS regulates the import and export of maize seeds and grain, requiring samples be tested for MLND prior to import. They have implemented interventions like rejecting seed crops with over 1% MLND infection and requiring roguing below that level. KEPHIS is also supporting the adoption of new rapid diagnostic methods and participation of private laboratories in MLND testing.

1. Community of Practice (CoP) for
MLND Management in Kenya
KEPHIS Perspective
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2. Contents
1. Introduction
2. MLN phytosanitary, diagnostics protocols
and standards
3. Seed certification procedures
4. Import/export procedures
5. Existing MLN surveillance initiatives
6. How MLN Phytosanitary CoP can
possibly help in ensuring MLN free seed
production and distribution
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3. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service
(KEPHIS )
A state corporation in the ministry of Agriculture
mandated to offer regulatory services in the
agricultural sector.
VISION:
The Lead Regulator And Facilitator Of Globally
Competitive Agriculture
MISSION:
To Provide A Science-Based Regulatory Service By
Assuring Quality Of Agricultural Inputs And
Produce To Promote Food Security And
Sustainable Development
3

4. Legal Framework
Plant Protection Act, Cap 324
The Seeds and Plant varieties Act, Cap 326
Biosafety Act, 2009
Supported by a number of International
Instruments such UPOV Convention, OECD
seed scheme etc
Agriculture Act, Cap 318
Agricultural Produce (Export) Act, Cap 319
Among Others
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5. KEPHIS Activities in relation to MLND
Disease surveillance
Phytosanitary Regulation and diagnostics
of MLN
- For local and imported/local seed as well
as post control testing of maize seed
Centralized regulation of maize seed
imports
Seed Certification process
Training and sensitization of stakeholders
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6. MLN Disease Surveillance
KEPHIS has been involved in field surveys for
MLND
MLN Surveillance coordinated by KEPHIS
Pest Risk Analysis Team (KEPHIS-HQ)
Surveillance Samples analyzed at KEPHIS
Plant Quarantine molecular laboratory and the
Molecular lab in Nakuru for MCMV & SCMV
KEPHIS has set up a surveillance and
monitoring program for MLND for the
previous year (2015)
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7. Laboratory Diagnostics on MLND
KEPHIS set up capacity for MLND testing in
2012 – using RT PCR and ELISA
Capacity Building on MLND diagnostics done at
FERA-UK; January 2013.
Focused on Real-Time PCR assays for seed
testing
Conventional PCR protocols for MCMV and
SCMV also optimized.
Now testing is being done in three KEPHIS labs
Preparations underway to adopt new methods
(LAMP, RPA and Immunostrip)
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8. 8
MLND Testing at KEPHIS -
Takes two weeks
RNA Extraction
Sample Reception
Sampling leaf material
Pre- germination
One Day
Two Days
One Day
qPCR One Day
7 days

9. Laboratory diagnostics
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Diagnostics for
MLND done
in the Molecular lab

10. Centralized regulation of maize seed/grain
imports
Also imports of maize grain has been
centralized
All Requests to import maize seed are
controlled at KEPHIS-HQ Karen.
Maize seed importers required to send a
representative sample to KEPHIS for MLND
virus Screening prior to importation.
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11. Seed import/export Regulation
Only registered seed merchants are
allowed to import/export seed
An SR14 (notice to import / export)
form is filled to notify KEPHIS of the
intention to import or export seed.
A Plant Import Permit is issued for the
importation.
Seed can also be imported by
researchers for experimental purposes
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12. Seed Companies Dealing In Maize Seed
Currently there are about 19 seed companies
dealing in maize seed in Kenya. These are
1. Kenya seed co,
2. Pannar seed ,
3. Agriseed co,
4. Western seed co,
5. Freshco,
6. East African seed co,
7. Dryland seed co,
8. Pioneer Hibred,
9. KARI seed unit,
10. Olerai ltd ,
11. Elgon kenya Ltd,
12. Monsanto,
13. Migotiyo plantations,
14. Faida seeds,
15. Pollen Ltd,
16. One Acre fund,
17. Crop Africa,
18. Gicheha and
19. Leldet Ltd.

13. Import regulation and Phytosanitary measures
MCMV is now treated as a regulated non
quarantine pest in Kenya. As such, seed
samples are delivered to KEPHIS Plant health
labs for screening for the two viruses.
A plant Import permit is issued for
importation once the lot is declared free from
the viruses.
The imported seed is still subject to seed
testing in the Seed testing lab in KEPHIS,
Lanet (for germination, purity and post
control).
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14. Earlier Interventions by KEPHIS/Stakeholders:
 No seed certification standards in the Seeds and
Plants Varieties (Seeds) regulations
 KEPHIS convened first urgent meeting of
stakeholders in 2012
 Agreed on a tolerance level of less than 10%
seed crop infection (informed by current info at
the time)
 Seed crop rejected at more that 10% infection
and allowed roguing at 10% and less.
 First seed crop rejections were in Narok
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Regulatory Interventions during Seed Certification

15.  No Regulatory gazetted standards a yet in the Seeds
and Plants Varieties (Seeds) regulations.
 KEPHIS convened a 2nd meeting of stakeholders and
research experts including KALRO crop virologists
when MLND continued to spread
 KEPHIS implemented an agreed upon intervention of
1% MLND infection tolerance.
 Seed crops rejected at more than 1% infection and
roguing at less than 1% MLND infection.
 All seeds iregardless of infection/approval was sampled
for MLND tests at PQBS.
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Latest Interventions by KEPHIS
2014-15 Season

16.  Regulatory standards proposed for inclusion in the amended
Seeds and Plants Varieties (Seeds) regulations.
 KEPHIS with agreement of key stakeholders is implementing
“new” field standards.
 KEPHIS implementing an agreed intervention of 1% MLND
infection tolerance in the field.
 Seed crops rejected at more than 1% infection and
mandatory roguing at less than 1% MLND infection.
 All seeds regardless of infection/approval are sampled for
MLND tests at PQBS. Seed sampling done before
processing to allow for disposal of rejected seed as grain
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Latest Interventions by KEPHIS
2015-16 Season

17. Current interventions cont’
• The use of LAMP to replace PCR
Lower costs, faster sample analysis
• Supporting private laboratories in
MLND testing
participated in Interlaboratory testing with
one private lab in Kenya
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18. 18
Current interventions cont’
Testing the
LAMP assay
for MCMV
Testing the Immuno–strip and
ELISA assay for MCMV

19. Inspectors in the field
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A seed Inspector in the field
A devastated seed field

20. Diagnostics is the KEY to a robust plant health
regulatory system. Without it all others don’t
mean much. 20
Good interplay between sectors in phytosanitary regulation

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