Kenya’s exporters to the European Union (EU) market face higher costs as they race to comply with new rules that limit the amount of chemicals in food-contact packaging and set targets to cut the bloc's waste, especially of oil-derived plastics.
Effective from August 12, 2026, the EU has banned the importation of food substances such as fruits and vegetables packed in cartons with high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’.
PFAS have been used in a range of food packaging because they repel water and grease. These chemicals, however, do not degrade naturally, and researchers have linked them to various ailments such as kidney disease, cancer and pregnancy disorders.
“Packaging uses large quantities of raw materials and generates waste that ends up in landfills or the sea. Some chemicals used in packaging can also be harmful. The new rules address these issues by setting requirements for the manufacturing and composition of all packaging placed on the EU market,” the European Commission said.
Kenyan exporters of fresh vegetables, avocados, fruits, herbs and food will be required to switch to cartons and packets without PFAS and pay to get their packaging materials certified.
The EU rules also require packaging to be reusable or recoverable in an “economically viable way”, meaning it can be used again or turned into something else after use. Other key measures outlined in the new rules include setting reuse targets, bans on some single-use formats, a threshold on "empty space" in packages, packaging-waste reduction targets, and mandatory deposit-return schemes for cans and plastic bottles.
Analysts expect the new EU rules to affect exporters through higher compliance costs.
“To comply with the new regulations, businesses must register with the packaging-regulation schemes in each EU member state and, in some cases, even appoint an authorised local agent before they can trade with customers in these countries,” Fred de Fossard, the director of Strategy at London-based think-tank, Prosperity Institute, said in an August 25,2026 commentary.
Kenyan businesses exporting to the EU will need a European declaration of conformity confirming that their packaging complies with the standards. These declarations are free, but industry estimates show that the required laboratory testing and technical assessments cost between €250 (Sh37,700) and over €1,000 (Sh150,800) per packaging sample.
Businesspeople sometimes pay extra per order if using third-party labs or compliance platforms.
Exporters must also register their packaging material in the relevant EU member states where they export their products. This costs between €179 (Sh27,000) and €1,000 (Sh150,800) per country per year.
Businesses are also responsible for financing the collection, sorting and treatment of packaging waste associated with products they place on the EU market.
“Non-compliance with these rules can lead to hefty fines of up to €200,000(Sh30,070,000) and even bans from trading. By making compliance so expensive, the EU has made it highly likely that many small businesses will withdraw from exporting their products across Europe altogether” de Fossard said.
The EU is Kenya’s biggest export destination. The majority of Kenya's exports to the European bloc are vegetables like peas and beans, fruits, flowers, tea, and coffee.
Most of these products are packaged for export using cardboard boxes, cartons and paper sacks to preserve freshness and prevent moisture damage during transit.
“The biggest impact is on Kenyan exporters of fresh vegetables, avocados, cut fruits, herbs, prepared and packaged fresh foods,” Agayo Ogambi, CEO of the Shippers Council of Eastern Africa, told the Business Daily.
“It adds another layer of compliance, particularly for exporters relying on imported packaging materials and packaging suppliers whose chemical composition may not previously have been audited.”
The European Commission said exporters will not be required to recall or destroy packaging or goods that were already in the 27-member bloc before August 12.
