State spells out tougher rules for sugar dealers

Sugar export and import dealers are headed for tough times as the Government announced new rules to protect the local industry against unfair competition and other malpractices.

In a shift from the past when such dealers were granted blanket licences to effect imports and exports depending on prevailing demand, Agriculture minister William Ruto said those engaging in the trade would now be granted annual permits with specific consignment volumes.

This means that applicants for such permits would be required to know up front the amount of sugar they intended to bring in or ship out of the local market within any given year and include such specifications in their request forms.

Such permits would also not be transferable to third parties while a manufacturer wishing to procure refined sugar locally from another manufacturer would be required to obtain express permission from the industry regulator, Kenya Sugar Board (KSB).

This story is available in full in the Business Daily e-paper.

source:bdafrics