Blow for Kenyan traders as Tanzania bans importation of day-old chicks, again

The Tanzanian government has banned the importation of day-old chicks in a bid to support the local poultry industry.

In a statement issued last week, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries said that it will stop the issuance of permits for chicken imports from July 30, 2022.

The decision was reached after a meeting between the ministry officials and poultry business stakeholders in Dodoma.

Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Abdallah Ulega says that the government is currently collecting data to ascertain the demand for day-old chicks before effecting the importation ban.

"It is our expectation that after July 30, we will not see anyone import day-old chicks in the country from anywhere,” Ulega said during the meeting.

The move will also see the government prevent the importation of chicken from abroad in a bid to control the bird flu pandemic.

Local poultry producers had for long decried the rise in 'smuggled' chicks that sell at lower prices.

According to data, most local hatcheries sell day-old chicks at an average price of  $0.85 (KSh100), while the smuggled chicks sell at $0.5 (KSh60) per chick.

Tanzania burns day-old chicks

In November 2017, the Tanzanian government came under sharp criticism over its decision to burn 6,400 day-old chicks imported from Kenya.

The chicks were impounded at the Namanga border town on allegations of being illegal imports.

In February 2018, Tanzania once again confiscated and burnt chicks from Kenya destined for its market.

At the time, Maria Mashingo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock told media outlets that the action was taken after it emerged that the 5,000 day-old chicks were not properly documented.